- Kamaru Usman thinks Alex Pereira could dominate the heavyweight division
- “The Nigerian Nightmare” named Jon Jones, Tom Aspinall and Curtis Blaydes as the only tough matchups for “Poatan”
Kamaru Usman is certain Alex Pereira could wipe the heavyweight division out and would only have problems with Jon Jones, Tom Aspinall and Curtis Blaydes.
Only few wrestle at heavyweight
Speaking on Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru & Henry, “The Nigerian Nightmare” weighed in on Pereira’s chances of dominating the heavyweight division. For Usman, the only possible way to match up well against “Poatan” is high level wrestling. However, only few heavyweights could wrestle and that would make it easier for Pereira to beat them all.
“100%, right now, he is one of the scariest guys in those upper weight divisions. Do I think he can go to heavyweight? 100%. Do I think he’s too small? No,” Usman said of Pereira.
“I think he can eat up to about 235 and still keep his speed, his power is heavyweight power already so yeah I think he easily makes the transition and I think those guys at heavyweight are in trouble as well because last time I looked at that heavyweight division, there’s maybe two or three guys that are willing to grab a leg and run you down and beat you up on the ground. But the rest of those guys, they’re going to stand with you and you’re going to stand with a guy like Alex Pereira, I think he will definitely shut a lot of those guys out,” he added.
Maybe Jon, Tom and Curtis
The way Usman sees it, only Jones, Aspinall and Blaydes have the ability to take Pereira to the ground and possibly beat the Brazilian.
“I think the two guys that possess a problem, actually maybe three guys that possess a problem is Curtis Blaydes, Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall. Besides those three guys, I think he puts hands on the rest of those heavyweights as well,” Usman assessed.
As it stands, Pereira has already defended his light heavyweight title twice and is still eager to move up to heavyweight. UFC president Dana White has yet to decide on it and “Poatan” seems open for a rematch with Jamahal Hill.
Watch Usman’s full podcast episode below:
