Former UFC heavyweight makes the case for ‘Poatan’ to face Jones subsequent.
UFC 303 was an unmitigated catastrophe for the promotion from a matchmaking standpoint. The postponement of the long-awaited ‘Return of the Mac’ was little question a spanner within the works for the MMA chief as they have been anticipating the best gate in UFC historical past, and the weird sequence of occasions that led to Dan Ige stepping up on a couple of hours’ discover to struggle within the co-main occasion is definitely one thing we’ve by no means seen earlier than.
From an leisure perspective, the vast majority of the undercard didn’t ship. Exterior of Payton Talbott’s quickfire knockout win over Yanis Ghemmouri, there actually wasn’t a complete lot to get followers out of their seats through the prelims, and though the welterweight most important card opener between Ian Machado Garry and Michael “Venom” Web page proved an fascinating tactical battle, it wasn’t a struggle that impressed the fanbase.
As has been the case time and time once more, nonetheless, Alex Pereira stepped as much as the plate to save lots of the day. His knockout win over Jiri Prochazka in the primary occasion stole all of the headlines, simply two months after his earlier showstopping exploits in opposition to Jamahal Hill at UFC 300.
The primary speaking level popping out of final Saturday appears to be regarding who “Poatan” will struggle subsequent. Rumours proceed to flow into a couple of potential transfer as much as take a look at the waters within the heavyweight division in opposition to both interim champion Tom Aspinall or two-weight world champion Jon Jones. There may be additionally the likelihood he’ll defend the 205lb belt in opposition to the consensus challenger Magomed Anakalaev.
Brendan Schaub Advocates For ‘Poatan’ vs. ‘Bones’ Subsequent
Talking on his Additional Thiccc podcast this week, former UFC heavyweight Brendan Schaub made the case for Pereira to struggle Jones subsequent.
“When you’re the UFC, if you happen to’re gonna danger Alex Pereira, wouldn’t you fairly him…wouldn’t you fairly him lose to the best of all time Jon Jones at heavyweight, after which go, ‘Yeah it’s Jon Jones, he’s going again to mild heavyweight’, or you recognize let’s say it’s aggressive, you go, ‘Yeah, he’s gonna struggle Tom Aspinall’.”
“At the least you continue to have choices” Schaub continued “as a result of if you happen to give him to Ankalaev and he loses? There’s no heavyweight…we don’t wanna see you at heavyweight. He’s gonna be caught at mild heavyweight. When you give him Aspinall and he loses that…properly the mega-fight with Jon’s gone.
Schaub then urged the UFC matchmakers to make the correct determination, maintain ‘Poatan’ away from the grappling-heavy Ankalaev – and ebook him in opposition to Jon Jones for the undisputed heavyweight strap after “Bones” is completed defending his title in opposition to Stipe Miocic [if he beats him, of course].
“When you’re within the boardroom and also you’re Mick Maynard this morning and also you’re waking up like, ‘Alright he’s an underdog in all three eventualities…what’s gonna be the largest struggle attainable, which isn’t gonna shoot his balloon down of stardom essentially the most?
“You do Jon Jones – Alex Pereira in 2025 for the undisputed heavyweight title”.
