How 'most lethal man in the world' Alex Pereira can become the GOAT after 'embarrassing' Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320

Alex Pereira should move up to the heavyweight division and look to become the first three-weight UFC champion, Nick Peet told TNT Sports. 

Pereira dispatched Magomed Ankalaev in just one minute and 22 seconds to reclaim the light-heavyweight title at UFC 320 in Las Vegas on October 4.

The Brazilian emphatically claimed victory just seven months after a unanimous points defeat to the Russian at UFC 313.

Since his 2021 debut, Pereira has established himself as one of the UFC's biggest stars, having become a two-division champion in just seven fights. 

While reviewing UFC 320, journalist Peet told TNT Sports’ Fight Week that the one thing currently preventing Pereira from being considered among the UFC’s greatest was longevity, with the 38-year-old having only competed in the promotion for four years. 

However, Peet argued that Pereira could earn that status if he took his domination of the promotion to the heavyweight division. 

"You’ve got to look at the body of work he’s done in the last four years and the manner of those victories, so many knockouts," Peet remarked. "He’s a three-time UFC champion now and when you go back and look at the greatest of all time - go and look at GSP’s [Georges St-Pierre] record, Anderson [Silva]’s record, even Jon Jones circa 2011/2012 when he went on that incredible run of performances and finishes - it’s comparable to any of those with regards to getting people out of there in the most explosive and entertaining fashion.

"What he requires, and what he’s missing, is the longevity, and at 38 years of age he hasn’t got the years left to have the longevity, to be dominant over a longer period of time. 

"So what he’s got to do is something that GSP, Anderson Silva and Jon Jones - all the greats - never managed to do, and that’s to become a three-weight UFC champion. 

"For me, he has nothing left to prove at 205. Absolutely, he should go up to heavyweight. He should face the winner of [Tom] Aspinall versus [Ciryl] Gane and give us something sensational to look forward to at the start of 2026."

UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping added that Pereira should take on the in-form Carlos Ulberg, before making the jump to the heavyweight division. 

Bisping said: "I think at 38 years old he does have the time to go to heavyweight because, as we know, those guys do have a longer career. 

"When you have Carlos Ulberg there, who’s on an eight or nine-fight winning streak, knocking people out the way that he has, I would like to see that. 

"I think the next fight is against Ulberg and then, yeah, by all means go up to heavyweight."

When asked who Pereira should target in the heavyweight division, Peet insisted that the Brazilian should only consider the world’s best.

"It’s got to be Jones or Aspinall for me - or Gane," Peet insisted. "Otherwise what is the point? What is the point of going up there and getting beaten by a top 10 heavyweight? This is the main guy, he’s the biggest draw in the sport today and if he wants to fight for the heavyweight title he should be able to.

"And if he can get Jon Jones out of retirement to have this fight at the White House… because there’s a lot on that fight. Do you know what’s on that fight? GOAT [Greatest Of All Time]. 

"If he beats Jon Jones not only does he beat the greatest of all time, but he’s also done it across three weight divisions, which unlocks the fight against Aspinall versus Gane anyway. So to think he’s going to fight anyone else in the heavyweight division is madness.

"He can do what he wants. This guy is the kingmaker. He gets to decide what he wants to do. 

"With the run of form he’s in, coming back from defeat to win titles and spectacularly ironing out Magomed Ankalaev - embarrassing him, he looked pathetic on the floor. 

"That was a statement on Saturday night. This man is the most lethal man in the sport today and I want to see him fight Aspinall v Gane. 

"The sport needs it, the heavyweight division needs it and you know what, he deserves it."

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