UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira is about to break one of the records of Jon Jones on UFC 313.
Alex Pereira will have to do with perhaps the most difficult test of his light heavyweight title government on UFC 313 next week in Las Vegas. He returns to the Octagon after earning 'Fighter of the Year' consideration of many fans and experts in 2024 with three successful title defenses.
Pereira will be confronted with the Russian Juggernaut Magomed Ankalaev in the UFC 313 Main Event after months of social media hooks between the two parties. Ankalaev earned the title shot after an unbeaten streak with 13-Vecht, including his most recent victory over Aleksandar Rakić on UFC 308.
Pereira and UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones have also bullied a potential super fight in recent months, especially after the victory of Jones at UFC 309 in November. Before Jones became the UFC heavyweight title holder, Jones put the standard in the light heavyweight division with multiple title line and wins over a whole series of legends.
At UFC 313, Pereira has the chance to do something that Jones did not do when he was the light heavyweight king.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty images
Alex Pereira passed a Jon Jones-Heele Record with UFC 313 victory
The sizzling pace of Pereira, while the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion sets him up for a fourth successful defending defense in less than a year at UFC 313. A victory over Ankalaev would be the fourth defense of Pereira in 329 days, which Jones exceeded for the fastest light heavyweight to the Riem.
Jones defeated Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Rashad Evans and Vitor Belfort in just 364 days. He completed Belfort with a Keylock entry on UFC 152 after he had hit his shoulder in place after a Belfort attempt against the fence.
Pereira earned the then vacant UFC-light heavyweight title by finishing Jiří Procházka on UFC 295. He spent Jamahal Hill on UFC 300 in April before he stopped Procházka in a short-age brake match on UFC 303.
Pereira then earned a Come-From-Behind victory over Khalil Rountree Jr. For his third title defense in 2024 on UFC 307 in October.
Jones left the light heavyweight title for a switch to heavyweight after a close victory over Dominick Reyes on UFC 247. He did not make his heavyweight debut to UFC 285 and won the then vacant heavyweight belt over Ciryl Gane.
Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira remains a possibility if Tom Aspinall Talks fails
Coincidentally, Ankalaev also beats the door of a record brought by Jones. A victory over UFC 313 would extend its current undefeated series to 14 fights, which went away within four unbeaten performances of the matching of Jones's 18 fighting light heavyweight undefeated streak.
Pereira provides at least one heavyweight appearance before he hangs the gloves, with his large target Jones. Jones and Tom Aspinall are in active negotiations with the UFC to unite the heavyweight belts later this year.
But as Jones vs. Aspinall does not flourish, Jones can be stripped of the title by UFC CEO Dana White and the matchmakers. This would possibly set up a fight between Pereira and Jones without a belt on the line.
Comments