In 2024,

Alex Pereira has solidified himself as one of the most dominant figures in the UFC. After making his highly successful transition from kickboxing, Pereira wasted no time making an impact in MMA. He claimed the UFC middleweight title in 2022 by defeating Israel Adesanya, and since then, his reign has been nothing short of impressive, becoming a two-weight champion in the process. Known for his devastating knockout power, Pereira has become a nightmare for anyone currently in the light heavyweight division.

As 2024 unfolds, Pereira has proven that he’s more than just a knockout artist. His ability to defend against takedowns and improve his grappling has made him a well-rounded fighter, leaving few weaknesses for opponents to exploit. However, there’s one challenge that the Brazilian is yet to face is that of Magomed Ankalaev. According to experts ‘Poatan’ will struggle with this particular aspect if he takes on the Dagestani fighter next in his career. One clip making the rounds has fans doubting the light heavyweight champion’s grappling skills against Ankalaev.

The former dual champion recently shared a video of him wrestling with his son. Championship Rounds took to their

X account to share a video of the friendly banter with the caption, “Alex Pereira enjoying Christmas Eve with the family”.

Magomed Ankalaev is a formidable force in the UFC, known for his exceptional wrestling skills. A product of Dagestani combat sports, Ankalaev seamlessly blends his striking with a strong wrestling game, making him a well-rounded threat in the light heavyweight division. His ability to control opponents on the ground, dominate clinch positions, and defend takedowns has been crucial to his success. His wrestling background allows him to dictate the pace of his fights, neutralizing dangerous strikers while also displaying impressive submission defense.

Reacting to the viral clip of ‘Poatan’ grappling with his son, fans weren’t quite impressed with the way Pereira defended himself on the ground. It has now allowed fans to mock the former dual-champion.

Fans remind Alex Pereria of how hard he needs to work on his wrestling again

In his MMA career, Alex Pereira has demonstrated a solid defensive guard, as well as the ability to escape dangerous situations. He holds a black belt in BJJ which was given to him by his current coach Plinio Cruz. His black belt not only speaks to his technical ability but also to his dedication to refining all aspects of his game. However, fans on social media don’t quite agree with it. Let us take a look at what they had to say about his latest video.

One user pointed out how Pereira’s appears to dominate his father in certain positions. However, he did remind him that such a skill level may not work against Ankalaev, “So his son is rag dolling him and you expect him to beat Ankalaev?” Ankalaev is a high-level wrestler and can control fights on the ground. Pereira’s ground game has been a point of criticism in the past, and his wrestling skills have been seen as an area that needs improvement. One user did remind him of that and commented, “He’s not beating Ankalaev like that.”

Historically, Pereira’s ground game has been questioned, as he initially relied on his striking to dominate opponents. While he holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, one user feels he has a long way to go, “We all knew that ground game was soft.” In recent times, ‘Poatan’ has been putting significant effort into improving his wrestling and ground game. Pereira is fully aware that to reach the next level in MMA, one fan appreciated his effort, “Bro has been working on his ground game non-stop.”

Alex Pereira’s sons appear to be inheriting their father’s physical traits—size, strength, and power—while also learning solid grappling skills. One user reminded how the next generation in his family could be better-rounded fighters and commented, “His sons are gonna be fkn great lol they got his size and power but will have grappling.”

Some fans believe that Ankalaev might struggle against the improvements Pereira has made in his ground game. While Ankalaev is known for his wrestling defense, one user seems to be backing the Brazilian, “I don’t think Magomed can defend like that.” Over the past few months, he’s been sharing videos of his wrestling drills and sparring sessions, showing that he’s serious about evolving as a fighter. One user took the time to remind the MMA world about it, “Alex doing a lot of wrestling these days.”

Some fans remain skeptical about Alex Pereira’s ability to handle elite wrestlers like Ankalaev, but many are optimistic about his growth. His recent wrestling-focused training suggests that he’s putting in the work to address any weaknesses in his game. Do you think Alex Pereira is a high-level wrestler? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.