Alex Pereira is taking his expertise up a division, and this has left many questioning whether or not it would finally repay for his combating profession.
Pereira (7-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) misplaced his UFC middleweight title this previous April in a rematch towards Israel Adesanya in the principle occasion of UFC 287 in Miami. But regardless of being 1-1 towards Adesanya, the Brazilian selected to maneuver as much as gentle heavyweight fairly than search a trilogy bout at 185 kilos.
Some have questioned this choice, and are wanting to see how Pereira fares this Saturday towards Jan Blachowicz at UFC 291 in Salt Lake Metropolis. Time will inform, however Dan Hardy is assured the transfer to 205 kilos shall be for the higher in Pereira’s profession.
“I believe there’s quite a lot of advantages for him shifting up a weight class,” Hardy instructed Submission Radio. “To start with, he’s not boiling himself all the way down to 185. When you stand subsequent to the man, I don’t know the way he steps on the dimensions at 185 kilos, simply his skeleton appears too massive, to be trustworthy. He’s large. It’s loopy. You don’t notice the dimensions of the man till you see him in individual.”
Some may even see Pereira’s gentle heavyweight transfer as giving up a dimension and energy benefit since he’ll be going through a lot bigger competitors. Nevertheless, Hardy doesn’t see it that method.
“I really feel like shifting as much as this weight class goes to permit him to develop into his physique a little bit bit extra, one thing he’s been working towards for a lot of years to maintain his weight down,” Hardy defined. “I really feel like there’s a sigh of aid that the physique goes via, and swiftly you’ve obtained 5 kilos of muscle on you that you just’ve been ready to develop for a few years.
“I really feel like he’s going to look thicker and stronger. His neck goes to be thicker, which goes to make him harder to knock out. I believe his again goes to be thicker. I believe he’s going to be stronger along with his takedown protection. I solely actually see advantages as a result of he’s not going to be undersized, and if he’s going to be out-skilled by somebody, that might occur at middleweight simply as a lot as gentle heavyweight. I believe we’re going to see a more healthy model of him.”
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