Alex Pereira has teased a potential move to heavyweight to chase history for a third UFC belt, and top-15 heavyweight Rodrigo Nascimento likes his chances against the elite of the division.
With only two defeats in seven octagon appearances and having beat the likes of Tanner Boser and Ilir Latifi, “Ze Colmeia” explained in an interview with MMA Fighting why he believes Pereira won’t be affected by the jump to a heavier weight class after already going from middleweight champion to light heavyweight titleholder.
“Once you’re over 205 pounds, brother, it’s all the same,” Nascimento said. “That’s why Alex is willing to move up. You have heavyweight strength already when you’re over 205, no doubt about it.”
Nascimento, who faces Alexandr Romanov at Saturday’s UFC Edmonton, sees names that “in theory” could be bad match-ups for “Poatan” at heavyweight, but he’s on such a roll at the moment, defending his 205-pound title three times in 2024, that he can overcome those challenges.
“I don’t think there are many good wrestlers in the division to take ‘Poatan’ down,” Nascimento said. “And the fight starts on the feet. He has good distance, he’s extremely experienced on the feet. I’m sure he’s training on the ground with Glover [Teixeira]. I think he will do well in this division.”
“I think a grappler could be a bad fight for him in this division. Jon Jones, maybe Tom Aspinall, but I think ‘Poatan’ can definitely beat Tom Aspinall, and maybe Jon Jones, too. If this Jon Jones fight happens, he can be very dangerous in the first rounds. Jon Jones is spectacular, as [Pereira] is, but I think he can beat the interim champion. The worst fight for him, without a doubt, is Jon Jones.”
Jones is slated to defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 on Nov. 16, and interim titleholder Aspinall serves as a potential replacement on the card. The UFC has yet to announce who’s next for Pereira’s belt at 205-pound. Meanwhile, Nascimento works his way back up after having his three-fight winning streak snapped by Derrick Lewis in the main event of UFC St. Louis back in May.
“Ze Colmeia” said he has learned important lessons against Lewis, like coming in lighter to the cage, but there were upsides from headlining a first UFC event, such as a very lucrative new UFC deal for double the pay. Either way, he promises to a “very different” version of “Ze Colmeia” this Saturday against Romanov, who was choked by Jailton Almeida in under three minutes back in June.
“I saw him this week at the hotel and he’s big, probably walking around 277 pounds,” Nascimento said of Romanov, who won six of nine in the UFC. “Romanov is a grappler and works the body, shoots for single leg takedowns, but I’m a jiu-jitsu guy, too. I’ll put the pressure, take him down and tap him in the first round. I’ll use my ground and pound and I know he will give away his back when he gets desperate, and then I’ll submit him.”
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