Alex Pereira enters UFC 300 as some of the credentialed strikers to ever compete in MMA, due to successful titles throughout two divisions whereas competing in GLORY Kickboxing.
In his subsequent combat, Pereira defends his 205-pound belt in opposition to Jamahal Hill, who has another combat within the UFC however the very same variety of knockouts because the reigning gentle heavyweight champion with 4. Regardless of comparable statistic, Pereira maintains his standing as the favourite within the combat with many believing his hanging potential will get him previous one other former UFC champion however Matt Brown isn’t so certain that’s the case.
“Individuals means overhype how technical Alex Pereira is,” Brown stated on the most recent episode of The Fighter vs. The Author. “He’s a huge human being. He’s a giant 205er. You ever go stand subsequent to the son of a b****, he’s enormous. He’s greater than most 205ers that I do know. That goes a great distance, and he has sufficient method and strategies that work for him.
“I truly watched a part of hanging educational on Dynamic Putting, and I used to be like these things is ridiculous. He seems to be horrible doing this. There’s no breakdown. It’s identical to no, hit like this, kick like this. Like dude, you do this, not us! The purpose is, he’s tough across the edges, nevertheless it works nice for him.”
Pereira constructed an unbelievable resume in kickboxing with quite a few high-profile wins, together with two over future UFC champion and rival Israel Adesanya, and the Brazilian has discovered a method to transition that fashion to the UFC. In simply seven fights with the promotion, he turned a two-division champion and he holds wins over 4 opponents who’ve held UFC titles prior to now.
A lifelong hanging fanatic and the UFC veteran with essentially the most knockouts in welterweight historical past, Brown acknowledges Pereira is a vicious knockout artist. He’s not offered that the Brazilian is definitely as technically proficient on the ft as many would possibly consider.
Brown factors out there are many examples of high-level strikers who weren’t recognized for being technical of their fights. He seems to be particularly at a few famed boxers who made a profession for themselves as thrilling, championship degree fighters that weren’t technicians on the ft.
Maybe the identical might be stated for Pereira, who delivers huge energy behind each punch and kick. The one time that backfired, nonetheless, is when he zigged when he ought to have zagged in opposition to Adesanya of their UFC rematch; “The Final Stylebender” dropped him with a devastating knockout punch.
Brown seems like Hill has that very same sort of potential, even when he doesn’t get the identical sort of credit score as Pereira for hanging prowess.
“I believe somebody like Jamahal Hill can go exploit that,” Brown stated. “As a result of he’s just a little tough across the edges, too. These guys aren’t technical strikers. That doesn’t imply they’re not nice strikers. There’s untechnical guys like Felix Trinidad or Ricardo Mayorga, guys that get to a really, very excessive degree and win championship belts with out technical hanging. They only don’t attain Floyd Mayweather standing, issues like that.
“However that performs effectively into Jamahal’s sport. Alex isn’t going up in opposition to an undersized man. I believe that’s going to play fairly effectively into Jamahal’s hand.”
Hill might not have the accolades that Pereira does in kickboxing, however Brown sees loads of subtleties in his sport that don’t typically get talked about. Mix these abilities with jaw-dropping energy, Brown stated, and Hill might probably flatline Pereira.
“It’s sort of attention-grabbing the best way Jamahal Hill is – we don’t respect the intricacies of his fashion,” Brown stated. “As a result of he’s so athletic, and he has a lot energy. We see these items which can be apparent and clear, however loads of the finer issues sort of get missed. I believe it’s truly a troublesome matchup for Pereira.”
With Hill getting back from a torn Achilles’ tendon suffered this previous July, he has loads using on his return. He needed to give up his gentle heavyweight title realizing the damage would preserve him out a number of months, and he’s set to return for an opportunity to reclaim the belt he by no means misplaced.
Brown believes all of it provides as much as an enormous alternative for Hill to take again his throne on arguably one of many greatest playing cards in UFC historical past.
“I believe Jamahal Hill, by far, has essentially the most to win right here, particularly on UFC 300, essential f****** occasion,” Brown stated. “Individuals are sort of hating on the principle occasion, saying it wasn’t worthy of the UFC 300. He’s bought loads to show on that. Speaking about Alex’s stardom, and he looks like the invincible man on the market proper now. You’ll be able to’t stress how a lot Jamahal Hill has to win on this combat.”
