There are very few fighters in the UFC currently who are as dominating as Alex Pereira. The Brazilian recently defended his light-heavyweight title for the third time in 2024 against Khalil Rountree Jr. However, this time around, he had to dig deep and use all his tools to come out on top, thus showcasing his class.

Before the fight, former UFC champion Michael Bisping picked Rountree Jr. as the favorite to win the match. However, he now feels that the champion is better than a former and all-time great UFC champion.

Michael Bisping labels Alex Pereira as the best fighter after UFC 307 victory

Alex Pereira is slowly and surely becoming one of the legends of the sport, and his UFC 307 performance is a testament to that. A true champion performs best under pressure, and Pereira did precisely that against Rountree Jr. He has now knocked out his last three opponents, proving that he is indeed entering his prime. His latest performance has forced many, including Michael Bisping, to start comparing him to one of the greatest fighters the sport has ever seen. Bisping took to his YouTube channel to share his opinion on the UFC 307 main event and seemed bamboozled by the Brazilian’s performance.

‘The Count’ pointed out how the ‘Poatan’ is now being compared to former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. ‘The Eagle’ retired from the sport unbeaten after cementing his place in the upper echelon of MMA greats. While Pereira has been beaten in the UFC, he is far more dominant than the Dagestani fighter. His ratio of knocking people out is higher than that of the former champion, which might work in his favor, feels Bisping. He even went on to claim that ‘Poatan’ currently sits at the top spot.

During the video, he said, “I have even seen people make comparisons online to Alex Pereira having a better resume than Khabib Nurmagomedov. Because he’s fighting more frequently, he’s talking out more top contenders. But you have to remember he does have losses on his record and Khabib retired undefeated and he never lost a round in all of mixed martial arts. That is why there is this mythical status surrounding Khabib Nurmagomedov and, for the most part, Islam Makhachev. But yeah I am saying all this Pereira yeah I’m going to give him. I’m going to give Pereira the top spot right now.”

Alex Pereira might be at the top spot currently, but there’s one opponent he needs to face, and that’s Magomed Ankalaev. The #2 ranked light-heavyweight fighter has been involved in many social media brawls with the champion. However, he is yet to face ‘Poatan’ inside the Octagon. Before the UFC 307 fight, he predicted that Pereira would win the fight and would face him next. But it now seems that the champion has different plans.

Alex Pereira is in no hurry to face Magomed Ankalaev for his next bout

With three successful title defenses in just seven months, Alex Pereira has established himself as one of the UFC’s most active and dominant champions. However, his reign faces a formidable challenge from Magomed Ankalaev, who has been vocal about his desire for a title shot. Ankalaev recently accused Pereira of using unconventional methods, such as voodoo, to secure victories. He also claimed to have a psychological advantage over the champion which has caught fire after many felt that the Brazilian would struggle against an elite grappler. ‘Russian Terror’ closely followed Pereira’s recent UFC 307 fight and expressed satisfaction with the outcome.

He took to his Instagram handle and pointed out that he was ready to take on Pereira next. But it seems the champion wants to take a deserving break from the sport. During the post-fight press conference, Pereira showed no interest in his next fight and said, “I think I deserve some rest after this. I’m not going to say anything about my team and their condition. So now, I think I want to rest my body.” 

Alex Pereira deserves a break from the sport after his remarkable performance in the year 2024. As far as Ankalaev is concerned, he first needs to win his UFC 308 fight to challenge for the title. Who do you think Alex Pereira will face next in his career? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.