Alex Pereira Convinces Dana White to Sign Former Rival
Alex Pereira Convinces Dana White to Sign Former Rival
By Tim Burke October 09, 2024 13:49
Alex Pereira's rise to stardom is legendary. A former Glory Kickboxing champion, Alex Pereira had no motivation to become a UFC champion. At least not until his former rival Israel Adesanya called him out.
The legendary UFC middleweight champion's famous interview is the only reason why Pereira is in the UFC today.
"He is going to be that guy, when I am world champion, when I am a legend. He's going to be at some pub, talking about how I beat that guy one time." Adesanya stated in a now infamous interview.
Since then, Poatan has gone on to beat Israel Adesanya in the UFC, become a two-division champion, and the biggest star in the sport right now.On Tuesday, the man who beat Alex Pereira at Glory, Artem Vakhitov earned a UFC contract after a win on Dana White's Contender Series.
Vakhitov fought Pereira twice in 2021, losing a split decision and then earning a majority decision in the rematch. On Tuesday, Vakhitov secured a first-round TKO victory over Islem Masrof. The most interesting part? Alex Pereira actually convinced Dana White to sign Vakhitov to a UFC contract.
White described his hesitance to sign Vakhitov and Poatan's influence at the DCWS press conference on Tuesday. "He thinks he is talented and deserves to be here {Alex} said I think that contender series, no matter where you have fought or what you have done puts a different type of pressure on you. You might not perform the way you normally would."
Pereira was in attendance at DWCS this week following his incredible performance at UFC 307. At light heavyweight, with wins against Jiří Procházka 2X, Jamahal Hill, Khalil Rountree, and Jan Błachowicz, Alex Pereira seems unstoppable. In 2024, he was like Superman, with three title defenses in 175 days, three knockouts battling through the flu and broken bones, and still winning big fights. The idea of anyone beating Poatan is a big deal. There will be a lot of eyes on Artem Vakhitov as he rises through the ranks of the UFC.
Following signing with the UFC Vakhitov promised he would earn a trilogy match with Alex Pereira. Could history repeat itself?
Alex Pereira's journey from a former Glory Kickboxing champion to a dominant UFC star underscores the impact of rivalry and motivation in sports, particularly highlighted by his victories over Israel Adesanya and his role in facilitating Artem Vakhitov's entry into the UFC. As Vakhitov aims for a trilogy match with Pereira, the potential for history to repeat itself adds an intriguing layer to the evolving narrative in the UFC.
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