Daniel Cormier believes Jan Blachowicz’s grappling could be a significant factor against Alex Pereira.
On Saturday, July 29, the UFC returns to Salt Lake City, Utah, for a stacked fight card featuring twelve matchups. In the UFC 291 co-main event, Blachowicz will introduce Pereira to the light heavyweight division with a title shot potentially on the line.
‘Poatan’ has a lot of questions to answer at 205 pounds after fighting at middleweight for his five UFC bouts. During an episode of DC & RC, Cormier had this to say about why Blachowicz could be a problem for Pereira:
“With Jan Blachowicz, you know that he possesses knockout power, and he also possesses the ability to take you down and grind you out. He’s so heavy from the top that he can really wear on Alex Pereira. For as much as Pereira has done in a short period of time, he’s not had to deal with a bigger, stronger grappler. Am I saying he’s not ready to do that? No.”
Pereira’s last fight was three months ago when he was dethroned of the UFC middleweight title by a brutal knockout loss against Israel Adesanya. Shortly after losing at UFC 287, ‘Poatan’ decided to decrease his weight cut and attempt to become a champion at light heavyweight.
Meanwhile, Blachowicz is coming off a split-decision draw against Magomed Ankalaev for the vacant UFC light heavyweight title in December 2022. The hard-hitting former 205-pound champion plans to take out Pereira to earn another chance at regaining UFC gold.
Daniel Cormier explains why Alex Pereira could have more success against Jan Blachowicz than Israel Adesanya
In March 2021, Jan Blachowicz defended his UFC light heavyweight title with a grappling-heavy approach against Israel Adesanya. Blachowicz’s strength advantage against the UFC middleweight champion has people questioning whether the same could happen against Alex Pereira.
During the same episode of the DC & RC, Daniel Cormier explained why he thinks Pereira could find more success against Blachowicz than Adesanya:
“When Israel Adesanya fought against Jan Blachowicz because we all look for common factors and common denominators, Izzy got taken down by Jan, and that’s why Izzy lost the fight. Izzy weighed 197 pounds when he walked into the Octagon to fight Jan Blachowicz. Pereira will be big, he will be heavy. I bet he weighs about 220 when he goes into the Octagon, so you would imagine that extra size will help him with the takedown defense.”
Blachowicz vs. Pereira will have higher stakes than initially expected. Earlier this month, Jamahal Hill vacated the UFC light heavyweight title after suffering a ruptured Achilles. Therefore, the UFC 291 co-main event winner will likely fight Jiri Prochazka for the vacant throne in their next Octagon appearance.
