Former UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis has high praise for former two-division champion Alex Pereira.
Most people consider Jon Jones to be the greatest mixed martial artist of all time, but who is the greatest combat sports athlete is another debate entirely.
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Olympic gold medalist and former UFC two-division champion Henry Cejudo believes he has earned the compliment. Two-time Olympic gold medalist and current UFC women’s bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison claims the honor.
While both men have commendable resumes, former UFC middleweight champion Derikus du Plessis considers Perreira to be the “GOAT” in combat sports.
“Listen, Alex Pereira is one of the greatest athletes out there. I’ve been saying it for a long time, if not – no, in my opinion, he’s the greatest combat athlete of all time,” Du Plessis told Fight Forecast and Betway South Africa.
“By far, Alex Pereira – the best guy is certainly Jon Jones, the best guy in the UFC. I’m looking at it across the board. To go and do what he did in kickboxing, come to the UFC in such a short period of time and now challenge for his third title. I mean, that’s unheard of.”
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Pereira gave up the light heavyweight title to move up to heavyweight and chase history. “Poatan” will have an interim title fight against former interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane at UFC Freedom 250 at the White House, where he could become the only fighter to win three UFC division titles. Du Plessis predicts Pereira will make history on June 14.
“I let him win the fight,” Du Plessis said. “I’m backing Alex Pereira in this fight. I want him to win this fight, I think he’s going to win that fight. He’s strong. He’s strong. He doesn’t look small compared to Gane.”
