Alex Pereira and JJ — two GOATs

[Power Level Guy]

Dana just doesn’t want Jones to beat him in the negotiation game. Jones is trustworthy and will fight people he wants to fight, but will not fight people he doesn’t want to fight.

 

[ahill]

Dana just doesn’t want Jones to beat him in the negotiation game. Jones is trustworthy and will fight people he wants to fight, but will not fight people he doesn’t want to fight.

He didn't mention wanting Alex Pereira anymore though... He used to, but he hasn't replied back. Rather, he called out Tom and said Tom was the one who ducked him, saying "it's a pity Tom ducked me, it'd have been a good fight".

When he retired, before coming back, a reporter asked about the fight Tom wanted to fight him and whether Tom needed him, as JJ always wanted Alex. JJ said: " No, I don't think Tom needs me. When we want something bad enough, it can be the worst thing that ever happens to you. So wanting something may be a bad idea sometimes. If I whoop Tom's ass, then there'd be this next guy... I'm just enjoying the fruits of my hard work, all the work I've put on" ... He said "wanting something bad enough can be the worst thing that can ever happen", in the context he wanted Alex and Tom wanted him... Plus saying that if he whooped Tom's ass, then there'd be 'this other guy' who he said, he doesn't want to fight anymore.

That's kinda telling. Otherwise he'd have just called Alex now. That's why I had said I don't want to see Alex Pereira vs Jon Jones, that I'd rather see JJ vs Tom. Because if there was anyone who'd beat JJ to me, seeing all their skill-set and the aura they brought to the fights, that look the fighters' eyes, it'd be Alex Pereira. And sadly, that may have happened already, which to me would suck as I'd want JJ to retire unbeaten after fighting Tom. I didn't want to see Alex vs JJ much, because deep down I had the feeling Alex would get to him the same way that earlier in his UFC days, in his 4th fight only, Alex got to Adesanya...

 

[ahill]

Joe Rogan : "you face the current best in the world"

Dude. If you watched the videos and followed UFC like I do, not just casually, you'd know...

 

[Power Level Guy]

Yeah, I’m a holdover from a bygone era. I was a GSP era kind of guy. I love to see your passion, but sometimes after you’ve followed a sport for a long time intensely, that passion burns out.

 

[ahill]

Yeah, I’m a holdover from a bygone era. I was a GSP era kind of guy. I love to see your passion, but sometimes after you’ve followed a sport for a long time intensely, that passion burns out.

We're gonna figure out who the best fighter / baddest men on the planet is. JJ and Alex Pereira are going to fight.

Alex Pereira : "I'd like to fight Jon Jones next. It is not my last fight but my body is still fresh so I'd like to fight him at my best still. I don't want him to retire without a challenge because I want to see who's better. Regardless, if he loses to me, he will still be the GOAT. I personally say he's the GOAT, so if he loses, nothing is going to change, his status as the best of all times is already guaranteed due to all his legacy. And I also am calling him because he's in a tough time with the loss of his brother, and that happened to me a few years ago, so I know how he feels. So we fighting at the White House, with a set date, is a way for him to be motivated, to have a goal, so I think this will help him too."

After Tom vs Gane ended in a draw/NC , JJ said :

"Alex, I'd be down to fight you in the White House event. I like the respect you have shown. I will bring the highest skill to the big day. Let's dance"

To me, that's the biggest fight I could watch. Bigger than JJ vs Ngannou, JJ vs Tom Aspinall, JJ vs DC... Ngannou is more of a power puncher and very strong, but he lacks the same skillset Alex and JJ do have, the same fight IQ and that experience of winning epic fights. Plus Alex Pereira's punching power is > Nagnnou's as been made clear by many PI UFC machine tests, so he's got the most punching power in UFC, but is more technical, faster and has similar or better grappling than Ngannou (likely better as he took Ankalaev down and finished him by g&p). Tom Aspinall is quick, but a striker like Gane, who is not as technical, as fast (he's as fast likely) and not as strong as Alex Pereira is already slightly better than Aspinall on the feet, and good enough to stop his takedowns, so Alex (who weight naturally almost the same as Gane) who's a better striker and considerably more powerful and better at grappling would be too much for Tom, whose defense is too open, as Gane broke his nose, and whose takedown isn't good enough vs someone with elite LHW TDD like Alex Pereira... Plus, he isn't strong enough to put down fighters who can take a punch by rolling with the punches, as he hit Gane with full strength and Gane didn't even wobble or look hurt in any way... Tom doesn't have the same power as Alex and Ngannou, and his defense vs someone like Alex would be bad if Cyril Gane already hurt him until the fight was stopped due to eye poke...

Hopefully the rematch shows more as Gane stupidly poked Tom in the eye in the end of round 1. Idk why he did that when he was winning the round, and Tom had his nose broken... Like, it's weird, he's dum af. But Gane, Tom, they're on a similar level to me, the oddsmaker are saying about putting them as near equals for the rematch as they said they've seen enough to see the fight is even... Cyril Gane was close to Francis Ngannou. The fight they had was a close one, Ngannou won a close 48-47. The only fight he looked like an amateur was vs Jon Jones... Besides that one, he's one or two steps below Ngannou and likely very close to Tom, slightly below perhaps... I believe his fight vs JJ was outlier in the sense Gane froze up a little and had the fight or flight thing that got to him. Normally, like analysts had predicted, they'd have Jon Jones winning as a 49-46 type of fight... As well as Alex Pereira, that they'd see him and Gane as a 4-1 in rounds. And Tom vs Gane, as a 3-2 very close, SD like win for Tom.

Basically, the hardcore analysts have it as

JJ / Alex Pereira
Ngannou
Tom Aspinall / Cyril Gane / Ankalaev / Modern top tier LHWs like Jiri too

Assuming JJ is on his best day, with time to train a prepare and perhaps get some juice I guess lol he'd need that otherwise it'd be hard for current JJ to keep up with opponents Alex beat like Jiri Prochazka, Magomed Ankalaev... Who are a full level above Thiago Santos and Reyes, who gave the JJ of his last LHW days a really tough fight earned by a close 3-2. JJ needs some extra energy drink to up his timing and use his skills to the level he can be on the level of Alex Pereira now. I think Alex knows that, hence the fight being in 8 months, time for JJ to use some level of enhancements and condition his body and mind to be at his best. JJ can only do fights sporadically. Since those enhancements over long time use can't be used more than a year, as he has fought 15 title fights, he's the type who can be the best in the world and beat anyone (but Alex... Who I believe is 50/50 with him, the only one) but needs time to be off cycle so his body can respond better when the cycles of some PEDs start having effect. But instead of being able to fight every 3 months like Alex, he needs close to a year to bring his absolute best in terms of sharpenss , timing, plus his evolves skills, which allows him to handle Ngannou, Tom, Gane without that terrible tough time.

 

[Power Level Guy]

It’s going to be a great fight! So Gane proved he’s better than people expected then huh? He held his own with Francis and now Tom too.

This is the perfect fight we need to bring JJ back to his peak. I love it!

 

[ahill]

It’s going to be a great fight! So Gane proved he’s better than people expected then huh? He held his own with Francis and now Tom too.

This is the perfect fight we need to bring JJ back to his peak. I love it!

Idk... I don't like it. It seem Pereira is gonna take JJ's 0... JJ is picking the most difficult fight, while he'd have had a way easier time vs Tom. HWs aren't as talented as LHWs. That's proven. JJ himself said HWs fear Alex Pereira. Pereira could go and get the third belt which he eventually will. I just don't think that's a good fight for JJ, against the most dangerous fighter at the moment. Like, he ought to know Pereira is a killer and is in way better shape than him. And that MMA evolves with time. The guys like Reyes and Santos who gave JJ a very tough fight, couldn't even make it to the championship rounds vs Jiri, Hill, Ankalaev... All of whom couldn't make it to the 3rd round vs a healthy and well prepared Pereira. There's the money but I really wouldn't like to see JJ lose... Which honestly, I think he will lose if he fight Pereira.

 

[Power Level Guy]

I’m always up to watch open fights. Jones needs someone to bring the best out of him, this is the guy.

 

[ahill]

I’m always up to watch open fights. Jones needs someone to bring the best out of him, this is the guy.

Lol I think JJ is one of the biggest trolls in mma. Alex apparently beat everyone from Chimaev to Tom Aspinall from what I can see here, and JJ wasn't fighting, waiting ... Then he fought Pereira who went on a massive winning spree vs legends of the new era and I think he beat Alex by 50-45 lmao .... If that ends up being true, which may be, then he waited all this time, Alex beat up everyone, called the last demon when he didn't have to and JJ ended up winning 5 rounds to 0 ..... Fuck off...