Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereira is undoubtedly one of the biggest superstars in the entire sport of MMA; and the Brazilian kickboxer could add yet more gold to his mantlepiece this weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Yet aside from retaining his shiny 205lb belt and securing himself as the 2024 Fighter of the Year, there’s actually an all-time record that ‘Poatan’ could also break this weekend – one that is currently held by the legendary Ronda Rousey.
Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty ImagesAlex Pereira closes in on Ronda Rousey’s all-time UFC championship recordThe main event of UFC 307 this weekend in Utah will be Alex Pereira’s third title fight of the year; having already bested Jamahal Hill and Jiri Prochazka via vicious first and second-round knockouts respectively.
Whilst veteran Khalil Rountree Jr will indeed put up a stern test for the Brazilian, there is a certain expectation that it’s a matter of ‘when’ not ‘if’, Pereira will score another knockout win.
Should Pereira successfully tame ‘The War Horse’ in the heights of Salt Lake City, he’ll actually break Ronda Rousey’s record for the shortest time between three world title defenses – an accomplishment that he’ll surpass by exactly two weeks.
Alex Pereira: 175 days – UFC 300, UFC 303, and UFC 307Ronda Rousey: 189 days – UFC 168, UFC 170, and UFC 175Tito Ortiz: 195 days – UFC 29, UFC 30, and UFC 32Jon Jones: 210 days – UFC 135, UFC 140, and UFC 145Rousey would famously win all three of those title fights in devastating fashion: A third-round submission of Miesha Tate, followed by back-to-back knockouts over Sara McMann and Alexis Davis.
A win over Rountree would also see Alex Pereira become only the seventh UFC fighter to record three successful title defenses in a single calendar year alongside the likes of Kamaru Usman and Demetrious Johnson, the two most recent additions to that special pool of prizefighters.
Considering it’s already October, Pereira is unlikely to make that four-for-four in 2024; however, his next title challenger could arrive much sooner than many expect.
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Dana White confirms Alex Pereira’s next opponent, should he win at UFC 307Whilst Alex Pereira’s focus is firmly fixed on ‘The War Horse’, UFC CEO Dana White has confirmed that should Poatan emerge from Salt Lake City as the champion, his next challenger has already been confirmed behind closed doors.
Speaking to veteran reporter Kevin Iole, White would state that if Pereira does win this weekend, his next opponent will be Magomed Ankalaev – just as long as the 19-1-1 Russian juggernaut also gets through his own upcoming fight.
“I don’t remember exactly what the timing of that was, but we didn’t make a fight; At the time we made the Khalil Rountree fight, Ankalaev already had a fight [booked].
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“Listen, Ankalaev’s ranked number two, if he goes out and puts on an unbelievable performance and Alex is still the champion, then he’s next.”
Ankalaev is currently booked to fight Aleksandar Rakic on the main card of UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi, which is scheduled for October 26 just a few weeks after Pereira vs Rountree.
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Source : BloodyElbow