LAS VEGAS – Alex Pereira is a person of few phrases, however clearly, his confidence doesn’t lack.
Three days out from his UFC 313 foremost occasion Saturday at T-Cellular Enviornment, Pereira (12-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) admits his inventory might by no means have been increased. A world celebrity who would be the promotion’s huge lively money cow not named Jon Jones, Pereira embraces the tag.
“I imagine so,” Pereira informed MMA Junkie and different reporters by way of an interpreter at a information convention Wednesday, when requested if he’s the game’s greatest star. “I had a busy yr with nice success. I simply hold doing this work, and I imagine so.”
Given his present standing within the sport, Pereira acknowledges the eye and funds {that a} tremendous combat might convey him. Whereas he affirmed he’s not overlooking his upcoming opponent Magomed Ankalaev, Pereira admitted there are a number of profitable choices ought to he get previous the surging Russian.
“I’m not wanting previous forward,” Pereira stated. “A whole lot of this stuff haven’t even got here into my thoughts. However what I believe for the long run what I’ve in hand is both Dricus (Du Plessis) or Jon Jones and even preventing Oleksandr Usyk in boxing. These, I see probably taking place. It doesn’t depend upon me. It is dependent upon the UFC. So regardless of the UFC desires to do, I’ll do it.”
Arguably the most important impediment between him and the hypothetical fights he spoke of is Ankalaev (20-1-1 MMA, 11-1-1 UFC), who many followers of the game suppose ought to be Pereira’s hardest stylistic take a look at so far. Pereira understands the intrigue.
“Completely, if I used to be in the identical place that I might watch this combat,” Pereira stated. “Principally or theoretically, it’s a striker vs. a grappler. So if I used to be a fan, I’d really need to watch the combat. As a fighter, I need to combat the combat. … He’s a whole fighter, not solely a wrestler. He has abilities in all places. However I’m ready, too. I’ve been coaching wrestling, grappling, since earlier than I joined the UFC, since I first got here to Connecticut to Glover Teixeira. I got here there to be an MMA fighter and I’m prepared for this.” For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 313.
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