Alex Pereira can cap historic 12-month title run at UFC 307

Over the summer time, Alex Pereira stopped by the tire store he used to work at in Brazil.

Not that the UFC mild heavyweight champion — whose meteoric rise in MMA has made him one of many high fight sports activities stars on the earth — is on the lookout for his previous job again, and never that that is an unusual prevalence.

For “Poatan,” it’s necessary to remain connected to his roots as his profession ascends nearer to the solar, and meaning staying in contact with the proprietor of Vila Nova Borracharia in Sao Paulo, the place he says he honed the aggressive spirit that pushes him to greatness within the cage in the present day.

“It’s tremendous necessary to me,” Pereira not too long ago informed The Submit by way of video name by way of interpreter and jiu-jitsu coach Plinio Cruz. “I don’t keep in mind one time that I haven’t been in Sao Paulo, as a result of Sao Paulo is my hometown, that I had not stopped there. Each time I’m going, I’m comfortable. The proprietor is tremendous comfortable over there. It’s a part of my story, so essential for me to cease by.”

Competitors for Pereira clearly has developed from the times of competing with co-workers to alter a tire the quickest — although he gave it a shot once more in a current video shared on social media — to, now, making ready for his third title protection of the 12 months on Saturday (10 p.m. Japanese, ESPN+ pay-per-view) in Salt Lake Metropolis, the place he faces challenger Khalil Rountree Jr. within the UFC 307 fundamental occasion.

Pereira (11-2, 9 finishes) has made historical past within the UFC at breakneck velocity, needing simply two years and 5 days to go from profitable debut with the promotion to setting the file for quickest to win UFC titles in two weight courses — first at middleweight in 2022 after which mild heavyweight a 12 months later, each occasions being topped at Madison Sq. Backyard.

For his subsequent trick, Pereira can turn out to be simply the fourth fighter of any weight or intercourse in UFC historical past to win 4 championship fights inside a 12-month interval, becoming a member of three fellow 205-pounders: Frank Shamrock (1997-98), Tito Ortiz (2000-01) and Jon Jones (2011-12).

In November, Pereira knocked out former champ Jiri Prochazka for the title the Czech initially vacated as a consequence of damage, adopted in April by knocking out ex-champ Jamahal Hill who briefly held the title after Prochazka earlier than his personal reign ended by way of damage, and once more KO’d Prochazka in June to arrange this fourth championship conflict in slightly below 11 months.

“It completely issues for me to be making historical past,” Pereira says of his propensity to perform uncommon feats. “Additionally, I can be capable of encourage folks for example to individuals who got here from the place I got here from, to have the ability to get a greater life for my household, for myself. So I need to use that as motivation to encourage extra folks.”

This battle being barely a month away from the UFC’s annual November date on the Backyard makes all of it however a certainty Pereira will, for the primary time since signing with the promotion in 2021, not be part of the New York tentpole occasion.

Not that Pereira is upset, however he has made it identified beforehand now the Backyard occasions rank excessive on his checklist of venues at which to compete.

“Like I’ve mentioned earlier than, Madison Sq. Backyard is like preventing at residence. I solely need to drive a bit over an hour and a half,” mentioned Pereira, who trains at mentor and former UFC mild heavyweight champ Glover Teixeira’s health club in Bethel, Conn. “So we’ve got to maneuver method much less of the workforce that we’ll have for a battle like this, for instance. It’s significantly better. However I’m a fighter. I battle anyplace.”

The identical goes for opponents, as Pereira says he was simply as keen to battle anticipated challenger and No. 2 contender within the UFC rankings Magomed Ankalaev as he’s to face Rountree, a stunning alternative by the UFC for this spot given his No. 8 rating.

Among the many strengths of Ankalaev is grappling, an space which might determine to be the previous two-division Glory kickboxing champion’s weak level that has but to be examined at a excessive degree throughout his three-year UFC tenure.

As a substitute, Ankalaev will face fifth-ranked Aleksandar Rakic later this month, presumably teeing up the winner for a title shot.

Pereira mentioned he doesn’t know what components led the UFC to e book him as a substitute towards Rountree (13-5, 9 finishes), a darkish horse contender who has received 5 in a row — 4 by TKO — after simply 4 victories in his first 10 UFC outings, however the champ warmed as much as the bizarre reserving after some preliminary perplexion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGKYvdbu6ec

“It was fully the UFC’s alternative. At first, I didn’t perceive it, both. I do know at first, the followers have been a bit shaky [about the idea],” Pereira says. “However I feel that they’re extra puffed up in regards to the [Rountree] battle, and I imagine that is going to be an excellent battle, so it’s going to be nice for everyone.”

Extra potential historical past continues to hover in Pereira’s orbit, as he has tossed on the market a willingness to battle up at heavyweight and chase a 3rd divisional crown — no fighter has achieved that feat in a serious MMA group.

Although UFC CEO Dana White has routinely took the wind out of the sails of such a pursuit, Pereira has one other concept White usually doesn’t like for his combined martial artists: boxing.

“Dana talked about that he’s going into boxing now. That’s additionally one thing that I’d like to do,” Pereira says. “He’s going to need to have a face. He’s going to need to have a champion. I’m prepared for it.”