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UFC Legends Lay Down ‘Heel’ Gameplan For Islam Makhachev To Be As Popular As Jon Jones & Alex Pereira

Islam Makhachev became the UFC lightweight champion in October 2022 by defeating Charles Oliveira. His second-round submission win was commanding, and many rightly predicted that he would keep the belt for quite some time. Makhachev beat P4P No. 1 Alexander Volkanovski via decision in his first title defense and knocked him out with a head […]

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Makhachev beat P4P No. 1 Alexander Volkanovski via decision in his first title defense and knocked him out with a head kick in the rematch. He then submitted Dustin Poirier in the fifth but also proved that his striking prowess is second to none in the lightweight division.

Arman Tsarukyan, who Makhachev beat via unanimous decision in 2019, is likely to be the next title challenger. According to Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen, the lightweight kingpin needs to turn ‘heel’ to make the most of his outstanding run in the UFC…

Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen Explain How Islam Makhachev Can Become UFC’s Biggest Star By Pursuing Floyd Mayweather’s Approach

In a recent episode of Good Guy / Bad Guy on the ESPN MMA YouTube channel, Sonnen and Cormier expressed concern over the current state of UFC champions. Because most of the champions have only recently won their belts, the company doesn’t boast a lot of stars.

After calling Jon Jones and Alex Pereira the two most popular fighters on the roster, Cormier advocated that Makhachev has the potential to replace them once they’ve retired or lost. However, he would have to tone down the politeness.

Sonnen agreed with the former UFC heavyweight kingpin. According to the veterans, a heel turn would benefit Makhachev greatly as he already drops cold statements but in a rather respectful manner. For readers unaware of the term, a heel in pro wrestling is the person who plays the villain.

Here’s Sonnen appreciating Makhachev for his personality that just needs to be marketed in MMA circles the right way:

“Okay, that guy is so charismatic, and he is so secretly funny. If he was to do a heel turn, I mean, come on, he said one of the great heel lines ever. He said a whole bunch of professors should be taking their black belts back from guys. Like that angle and that is blasphemy in this sport and nobody even knows got it. It was like this G-rated line, he didn’t use profanity, he didn’t yell. When he said it, he said it nicely.”

Over the years, Sonnen himself, Michael Bisping, and Colby Covington have proved that a heel personality can sell amazingly well in the UFC as well. According to Cormier, Makhachev can boast about his superior skills and diss all the lightweights. He could follow in the footsteps of Floyd Mayweather and aim to reach a stage where people tune in to watch him lose.

“I think that’s the move for Islam. He needs to get you and I to write him promos. We should write him promos. We write promos telling how much better he is than everyone. I would make him tell everybody that they don’t deserve to be in there with him and he’s just going to lord over this division until he decides to retire.”

READ MORE: Aljamain Sterling Names Next High-Profile Opponent If Movsar Evloev Rejects Rebooked Fight

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Jamahal Hill warns Alex Pereira from UFC light heavyweight move: ‘He should focus on Israel Adesanya’

Jamahal Hill Alex Pereira UFC Undisputed UFC light heavyweight champion, Jamahal Hill has warned current middleweight kingpin, Alex Pereira from a much-rumored move to 205lbs in pursuit of a second Octagon title – claiming the Brazilian still has his hands firmly full ahead of his April title rematch with Israel Adesanya. Hill, who minted himself as the undisputed light heavyweight […]

Undisputed UFC light heavyweight champion, Jamahal Hill has warned current middleweight kingpin, Alex Pereira from a much-rumored move to 205lbs in pursuit of a second Octagon title – claiming the Brazilian still has his hands firmly full ahead of his April title rematch with Israel Adesanya.

Hill, who minted himself as the undisputed light heavyweight champion back in January of this year, became the first Dana White’s Contender Series product to strike UFC gold – taking out former champion, Glover Teixeira in Brazil in a unanimous decision victory.

As for Pereira, the teammate of the now-retired, Teixeira, is slated to headline UFC 287 on April 8. from the Miami Dade Center in Miami, Florida in an immediate championship rematch against Adesanya.

Landing undisputed middleweight gold back in November at Madison Square Garden, Sao Paulo striker, Pereira stopped Adesanya with a stunning fifth round standing TKO triumph, handing the latter his first loss at the middleweight limit in professional mixed martial arts.

Jamahal Hill warns Alex Pereira from light heavyweight title pursuit

Initially linked with an effort at avenging training partner, Teixeira’s homecoming loss to Hill following UFC 283 – Pereira has now been continually warned from making the light heavyweight division move, with Hill claiming he still has a tough opponent awaiting him in the form of Adesanya.

“I think he [Alex Pereira] should really focus on Izzy (Israel Adesanya) because he was getting his ass whooped for a good majority of that fight last time before he won,” Jamahal Hill told The Schmo during a recent interview.

“He had some things happen for him [Israel Adesanya], like the leg check at the end,” Jamahal Hill. “I think if Izzy just throws hands – just box him; just be quick and outbox him – he’ll win.” (Transcribed by MMA Junkie)

Undefeated in his last four Octagon outings, en route to his light heavyweight title victory, Hill defeated the trio of Jimmy Crute, Johnny Walker, and Thiago Santos with strikes – ahead of his Rio de Janeiro coronation against Teixeira.

Robert Whittaker believes that Israel Adesanya’s KO loss to Alex Pereira could help him in their upcoming UFC 287 bout

UFC middleweight Robert Whittaker has suggested that Israel Adesanya’s knockout loss to Alex Pereira, could actually help him in their upcoming rematch. In November of last year, Pereira capped off his sensational first 12 months in the UFC, stopping Adesanya In the final round of their fight. Pereira had been hurt in the first and […]

UFC middleweight Robert Whittaker has suggested that Israel Adesanya’s knockout loss to Alex Pereira, could actually help him in their upcoming rematch.

In November of last year, Pereira capped off his sensational first 12 months in the UFC, stopping Adesanya In the final round of their fight. Pereira had been hurt in the first and was down on the card, but managed to land his signature left hook – which was the beginning of the end for Adesanya.

The loss took Adesanya to 0-3 against Pereira (including two kickboxing bouts) and marked his first stoppage loss in his MMA career. The 33-year-old will rematch Pereira in April and certainly has a tough task ahead, but former opponent, Whittaker, says that the outcome of the last fight could help Adesanya going into the next fight.

“If we look at the fight just from a mental perspective,” Whittaker said on the Believe You Me Podcast. “I believe Adesanya had a better chance last fight,” Whittaker said. “But in saying that, maybe now that the worst has happened again, it frees him up for the next one. You see where it can swing both ways really easily. It can either swing one way where it frees him up: the worst has happened, whatever, he gets in there mentally free. Or, he’s worried about it happening again with the small gloves because it has happened.

Honestly, skill-wise, he could have beat him skill-wise last time.” (H/T MMAFighting)

Robert Whittaker wants to fight Pereira and Adesanya

Although Whittaker has already faced Adesanya twice, losing both, the Australian still wants another crack at the former champion, as well as a showdown with Pereira.

“I’m chomping at the bit to get at both of them,” Robert Whittaker said. “I truly do feel that I can take myself to a new level. I feel that I can get in there and put on a better performance. I kind of understand where Adesanya was mentally, I guess, going into the rematch after losing twice to the same guy.

“It was a very similar predicament with me and Adesanya, and I do believe that him getting through the fights the way he did and the way everything has gone, the next fight is the best one. But then, it is what it is. I do want that fight. I do believe that I use mixed martial arts better than both of those guys. I do believe I can utilize my wrestling and grappling to make it a hellish match for both of them.”

Robert Whittaker on the Believe you Me podcast

Does Robert Whittaker become champion again?

Israel Adesanya Feels He’s Still “An Alien” In New Zealand

Israel Adesanya recently indicated that he still feels like an “alien” in New Zealand even though he’s lived in the country since 2001. “The Last Stylebender” is coming off just the second loss of his MMA career, but the circumstances of that defeat we…

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UFC’s Mario Bautista Predicts Fantasy Jon Jones, Alex Pereira, & Tom Aspinall Tournament (Exclusive)

The next UFC heavyweight title fight would appear to be pitting arguably the greatest of all time against the best fighter we have seen in this weight class inside the Octagon. Despite the pedigree that both Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic bring to the tabl…

Continue Reading UFC’s Mario Bautista Predicts Fantasy Jon Jones, Alex Pereira, & Tom Aspinall Tournament (Exclusive) at MMA News.

Alex Pereira issues chilling warning to Israel Adesanya ahead of UFC 287 rematch: ‘Ready to kill’

Ahead of his undisputed UFC middleweight championship rematch against arch-rival, Israel Adesanya at UFC 287 on April 8. – Brazilian knockout ace, Alex Pereira has issued a chilling message to the Nigerian-Kiwi – claiming he’s “ready to kill” ahead of his Octagon return. Headlining UFC 281 back in November of last year at Madison Square […]

Headlining UFC 281 back in November of last year at Madison Square Garden, Sao Paulo striking phenom, Alex Pereira managed to clinch the undisputed middleweight crown with a stunning, fifth round rallying TKO win over City Kickboxing staple, Adesanya.

The victory came as Pereira’s seventh in professional mixed martial arts, and third in combat sports over Adesanya alone, following a prior dubious decision win, and a knockout win in the pair’s GLORY Kickboxing re-run in his native Brazil.

Booked to rematch Adesanya at UFC 278 on April 8. – with the pay-per-view event expected to take place in Miami, Florida, although a location has yet to be determined by the organization at the time of publication.

Prior to his win over Adesanya at MSG last November, Alex Pereira, a former middleweight and light heavyweight titleholder under the aforenoted, GLORY Kickboxing banner – stopped Andreas Michailidis in his Octagon debut, before landing a decision win over Bruno Silva, a knockout success against division contender, Sean Strickland.

Alex Pereira issues a chilling message to Israel Adesanya ahead of UFC 287

Previewing their April rematch, Pereira posted a picture on his official Instagram of himself standing opposite Adesanya at UFC 281 in November last, with the caption “ready to kill” ahead of the duo’s rematch.

Seeing his reign at middleweight champion halted in his knockout defeat to Pereira, Adesanya had racked up five successful title defenses over division competition since assuming the undisputed throne in 2019.

Last year alone, Adesanya defeated Jared Cannonier and Robert Whittaker, following a prior win over two-time foe, Marvin Vettori, a knockout of Paulo Costa, and a forgettable decision success over promotional alum, Yoel Romero.