The UFC Denver event is in the works for this Saturday. Henry Cejudo and Kamaru Usman are the co-hosts of the Pound 4 Pound Podcast. Right before this came UFC 303; before touching on Saturday’s event, ‘Triple C’ fielded topics about top bill Alex Pereira. Even Usman spoke as well, indicating the need to have a well-rounded skillset to attain the top pound-for-pound status.
Alex Pereira has had a mammoth rise in fame, being in more title matches than normal bouts. He also headlined two PPVs in the top five live-gates in UFC history. ‘Poatan’ blew out Jiri Prochazka via head kick and pounding at the 0.13 mark of R2 in their short-notice rematch at UFC 303. While he is now ranked 2 in the P4P rankings, Henry Cejudo advises changes.
You are not wrong Kamaru…it’s not necessarily Pereira’s fault…[but] we have to see him go up against guys that are a little more well-rounded…Even if Pereira does get a bit but*hurt…Does he have beautiful striking? 100%. I want to see more…then we can gauge it whether he is maybe even so pound-for-pound…
Henry Cejudo via the “Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru Usman & Henry Cejudo” Podcast
These come in light of Usman doubling down on his pound-for-pound debate made in early June. Pereira has made quite a mark as a dual-division champ in just nine Octagon appearances. After yet another jaw-dropping shock stoppage, there’s been talks about him being the top pound-for-pound. Usman disagrees, citing the lack of a well-rounded skillset.
Much like Cejudo, the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ had postulated Prochazka would bank on his past experiences and be better in their title rematch. While that did not come to pass, he still sticks to it, saying that Pereira needs more ground game. Michael Bisping, Anthony Smith, Jamahal Hill, Chael Sonnen, and even devout supporter Daniel Cormier once noted this. More to it, Usman provides clarity on the topic.
Kamaru Usman pitches in what pound-for-pound means to him
Pound-for-pound has been a contentious topic for those interested in the MMA community for years. The same debate happened a few weeks ago with Jon Jones and Islam Makhchev. Rather than something quantifiable, it is abstract, a total skill-to-skill display. In just nine octagon appearances, Pereira is now an unprecedented ninth fighter in UFC history to hold championships in two divisions.
Kamaru Usman gives his take on Alex Pereira’s rankings (Source: X/bleacherreport.com)Pereira has now defended his light-heavyweight gold on super short time twice, knocking out Jamahall Hill and Prochazka. Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereira is now a brand value champion and one of the best draws. But does that mean the 37-year-old is an all-around phenom? During a recent episode of Pound 4 Pound with Henry Cejudo, former P4P king Usman pitched in.
When we talk pound-for-pound, let’s not forget, pound-for-pound is a hypothetical…That means, do you possess the highest level of striking, of wrestling, of kickboxing, of grappling, of jiu-jitsu? Which means if you were put in flyweight or if you were put in welterweight or if you were put in heavyweight, your style would transfer all throughout those divisions…
Kamaru Usman via the “Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru Usman & Henry Cejudo” Podcast
‘Nigerian Nightmare’ puts that pound-for-pound is all-around transferable skills. So, when a fighter moves up a division, they are still victorious and a top dog. Jones did it, going from 205 to 265. Makhachev recently showed that he can outbox and refer to his wrestle-heavy attire. His D’Arce choke at the 2:42 mark of R5 at UFC 302 was quite the thriller.
This is where the argument falls flat. Usman’s high-level wrestling was a no-show against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294. Granted, he took the fight on short notice. However, the hypothesis doesn’t work as the skills did not transfer. The P4P debate is complex; it is not simple by any means. As such, there is no obvious solution or metrics, just opinions on what one fighter feels should hold merit.
