Former UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis bestowed some high praise on former two-division titleholder Alex Pereira.
Most people consider Jon Jones the greatest mixed martial artist of all time, but who’s the greatest combat sports athlete is another debate altogether.
Advertisement
Olympic gold medalist and former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo believes he’s earned that boast. Two-time Olympic gold medalist and current UFC women’s bantamweight titleholder Kayla Harrison has staked claim to the distinction.
While both have a resume worthy, former UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis considers Pereira the combat sports GOAT.
“Listen, just Alex Pereira is one of the greatest. I’ve said this for a long time, if not – No, the greatest combat athlete to ever live in my opinion,” du Plessis told Fight Forecast and Betway South Africa.
“Alex Pereira to this point – The GOAT of course being Jon Jones, the GOAT of the UFC. I’m taking about across the board. Going, doing what he did in kickboxing, coming to the UFC in such a short period of time, and now challenging for his third title. I mean, that’s unheard of.”
Advertisement
Pereira relinquished his light heavyweight championship to move up to the heavyweight division to chase history. “Poatan” takes on former interim heavyweight titleholder Ciryl Gane in an interim title bout at the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House with the possibility of becoming the only fighter to win three UFC divisional championships. Du Plessis predicted Pereira will achieve history on June 14.
“I have him winning the fight,” du Plessis said. “I’m backing Alex Pereira in this fight. I hope he wins the fight, and I think he is going to win that fight. He’s huge. He’s huge. He doesn’t look small against Gane.”
