In a bold move that could redefine his legacy, Alex Pereira is on the verge of making history at the UFC White House event. If successful against Ciryl Gane this Sunday, Pereira will become the first-ever three-division champion in UFC history, adding an interim heavyweight title to his already impressive light heavyweight and middleweight accolades.
UFC CEO Dana White has already proclaimed that such an achievement would catapult Pereira into the conversation for the greatest of all time, eclipsing even the legendary Jon Jones. However, former two-division champion Daniel Cormier isn’t quite ready to hand over that title just yet.
During a media day event, Cormier revealed that Pereira directly asked him if he would be considered the GOAT after potentially securing his third championship. The conversation, while significant, took a surprising turn. “I told him no,” Cormier admitted, acknowledging the weight of the question in front of a formidable Pereira.
Cormier recognizes the monumental nature of Pereira’s potential achievement but believes there’s still more for him to accomplish. “Being a three-division champion is incredible,” Cormier stated. “But to truly be considered the greatest, he needs to defend that heavyweight title.”
He emphasized that while Pereira has already fought for the light heavyweight title multiple times, he needs to solidify his legacy further. Cormier expressed admiration for Pereira’s journey but pointed out that legends like Georges St-Pierre and Khabib Nurmagomedov have set a high bar that still needs to be met.
As the fight approaches, fans are left wondering: what will it take for Pereira to secure his place among the all-time greats?
