Alex Pereira faced a devastating defeat at UFC 287, shattering his dominant reign in his long-standing rivalry with Israel Adesanya. The Brazilian’s impressive hat-trick winning streak against ‘The Last Stylebender’ came to an abrupt halt, leaving him reeling from the loss. In a surprising twist, Pereira made a strategic decision following his defeat. He opted to move up to the light heavyweight division, adding an air of uncertainty to the prospect of a highly anticipated trilogy between him and Adesanya. It had long been anticipated that Pereira, known for his imposing physicality, would eventually make the leap to a higher weight class.

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Despite his transition to the light heavyweight division, Pereira wasted no time in securing a high-profile debut fight. He is set to face the former opponent of Israel Adesanya, Jan Błachowicz in an intriguing showdown at UFC 292. This matchup adds another layer of excitement to Pereira’s journey in the new weight class, as he seeks to make his mark and establish his dominance once again.

Regarding Pereira’s lethal fighting style, UFC legend Chael Sonnen has provided insights into the Brazilian’s skill set. Sonnen highlighted a particular element that makes Pereira a formidable threat to his opponents. However, intriguingly, Sonnen also noted that this same aspect could potentially work in favor of Jan Błachowicz, his upcoming opponent.

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Chael Sonnen believes Jan Błachowicz will have an edge over Alex Pereira

In a recent YouTube video, Chael Sonnen delved deep into the upcoming clash between Alex Pereira and Jan Błachowicz. The 46-year-old emphasized Pereira’s unpredictability and dominance during fights, underlining how this element played a crucial role in his previous encounters, including those with Adesanya.

Sonnen said, “Pereira outstruck Adesanya included in the fight that Pereira lost. The last one. But Pereira offered a threat. He made Adesanya guess a couple of times.” 

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Read more: “Gonna Take Him Down and…”: Israel Adesanya Gives Out His Bold Prediction on the Fight Between His Two Former Rivals Alex Pereira and Jan Blachowicz

He further continued, “I’m just offering for you that it’s a very big deal. And it’s something that does favor Błachowicz… If this fight gets closer and Błachowicz starts talking, and I think Błachowicz is interesting, I encourage him [to] keep coming with it. Pereira is interesting, too, man… These are two really interesting guys. This has the ability to be a really interesting match.”

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The implications of this fight are immense for both Alex Pereira and the former UFC light heavyweight champion, Jan Błachowicz. A potential title shot awaits the victor, and with so much at stake, this bout takes on added significance.

Do you think Alex Pereira can embark on his light heavyweight division with a victory? Let us know in the comments below.

Watch this story: WATCH: One of the Bloodiest UFC Fights Ever

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Mayur Soni

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Mayur Soni is a UFC writer at EssentiallySports. His journey as an MMA fan started with Conor McGregor’s historic 13-second knockout of Jose Aldo in 2015, which sparked his love for the sport. Since then, he has closely followed the sport and gained an in-depth understanding of its nuances, which reflects in his insightful and analytical writing. Mayur's article on Kamaru Usman's injury displays his dedication to providing comprehensive coverage of athletes from various perspectives. In addition to his love for combat sports, Mayur is also an avid marathon runner. His experience as a marathon runner has given him a deep appreciation for the connection between the mind and body, which he sees reflected in the sport of MMA. As a writer, Mayur's background in theatre also informs his approach to storytelling, allowing him to craft engaging and captivating articles that bring MMA to life for readers.

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