EXCLUSIVE
UFC legend Alistair Overeem thinks it's just a matter of time before Alex Pereira suffers bad losses against MMA's best fighters.
The former kickboxing champion made history when he knocked out Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295 in New York on November 11.
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‘Poatan’ won the vacant light heavyweight title after previously stopping his long-time rival, Israel Adesanya, to become the UFC middleweight champion in November 2022.
Periera is just the ninth fighter in company history to win belts in two different weight classes and he achieved the rare feat much quicker than anyone else.
The 36-year-old needed just 11 MMA fights to reach the sport's pinnacle.
Overeem, who switched between kickboxing and MMA during his Hall of Fame career, knows just how hard it is to become a champion in Dana White’s league.
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The 43-year-old held world titles in Strikeforce and DREAM but fell short during his decade-long bid to become the UFC’s best heavyweight fighter.
Surprisingly, he’s not overly impressed by what Pereira has achieved in MMA since fully dedicating himself to the sport just three years ago.
“He’s interesting,” Overeem told talkSPORT.com.
“Do I see him as a champion? No.
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“I think, at this moment, they have difficulty figuring him out, but the moment they figure him out they are going to destroy him and that will be a tough time for him.”
Overeem believes Pereira’s lack of ground skills will soon be exposed.
He added: “I think he’s excellent in the striking department, but his jiu-jitsu and his grappling is not there.
“He’s so good in the striking department other fighters are unable to take him down. The moment they figure him out, striking-wise, it’ll be difficult for him.”
Pereira called out Adesanya, who he has already fought four times across two sports, following his win at Madison Square Garden earlier this month.
‘The Last Stylebender’ most likely won’t be next for him.
Former 205lb king Jamahal Hill is already talking up his potential clash with Pereira after relinquishing his belt when he suffered an ACL injury in July.
Hill has promised to stand up with Pereira, so it seems the two-weight champion has a little more time to address the grappling issues that have Overeem doubtful about his championship credentials.