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White concedes Pereira can become UFC’s pound-for-pound champion

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UFC champ Alex Pereira

UFC CEO Dana White has conceded that if Alex Pereira beats Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 in Las Vegas this Sunday (AEDT), the Brazilian could be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

White has long been a proponent of the notion that heavyweight Jon Jones tops the UFC’s pound-for-pound charts.

He acknowledged earlier this year that lightweight Islam Makhachev had done enough to overtake the American, and now he is open to changing his mind again in favour of Pereira.

“He’s one of the biggest stars in the sport right now, if not the biggest star in the sport,” White said on Wednesday.

“If Alex comes out of this the way he’s come out of every other fight, he might be the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world.”

White believes Ankalaev will be no walk in the park for Pereira, however.

“This is a tough fight for Alex,” he said.

“What makes this weekend great is Ankalaev is a very serious threat to him. 

“This is probably the toughest fight he’s ever had. 

“His team always talks about his takedown defence and that the fans don’t really know how good it is. 

“We’re going to find out how good it is this weekend.”

UFC betting sites have the title fight as a tight contest, pricing Pereira as a slight favourite to win at -125.

Marantelli Bet puts the most likely method of victory as a knockout in favour of the defending champion (+125), while Ankalaev’s best odds of winning are also by knockout (+300).

White expects fans will see plenty of action in Saturday night’s main event, courtesy of Pereira’s exciting fight style.

“The thing that people love about Alex is obviously his fighting style,” he said.

“He tries to knock your head off. People love that. 

“He was on vacation in Australia and a fight fell out and we needed him. He literally left vacation and came and fought. 

“This guy will literally fight anybody, anywhere, any time.

“He comes in, he’s pure violence. He tries to knock you out. 

“Doesn’t duck anybody. Has moved up a weight class, is willing to move up to heavyweight and fight whoever.”

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Topics: Alex Pereira, Dana White, MMA, UFC

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