UFC champ Alex Pereira not ‘anything spectacular’

Michael Page questions the reliability of UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira’s fighting style.

Pereira (9-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) makes his first title defense against Jamahal Hill (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 300 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) headliner at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Page acknowledges Pereira’s power but thinks he takes too much damage in the process.

“It’s weird,” Page said on his YouTube channel. “I see why Alex Pereira is successful and why he’s dangerous, but I don’t rate his style to be anything spectacular. He’s just a powerhouse. His leg kicks are just abusive. He’s got crazy power in his hands, and obviously he’s tough. My conflict is, when people have – he’s got a tough chin, because he gets hit a lot.

“And even when he’s posted videos of his training and stuff, he’s constantly just getting whacked with right hands and left hooks. Yes, he can take them, and he gives them back probably way worse. I just don’t like when people have that kind of style and they kind of accept damage instead of knowing that you’re tough and trying to ride shots, but knowing if you get caught, you’re still good. Him going up in weight, as well, your chin will only take so much.”

Going up against a fellow knockout artist in Hill, Page predicts Pereira loses his belt to “Sweet Dreams.”

“I’m going to give it to Jamahal Hill,” Page said. “I’m a fan of what Pereira’s done so far. I just don’t like when people try to just be the tough guy. …His style is, ‘I’m the tough guy, take shots, give shots.’ I class that as a 50-50 style. Win some, lose some.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.