{"id":36499,"date":"2026-01-08T23:24:17","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T23:24:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sherdog.com\/news\/news\/Team-Poatan-Claims-Chimaev-Fight-Makes-No-Sense-Set-Sights-on-One-Name-199682"},"modified":"2026-01-08T23:24:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T23:24:17","slug":"team-poatan-claims-chimaev-fight-makes-no-sense-set-sights-on-one-name","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.martialartskleinanzeigen.com\/videos\/team-poatan-claims-chimaev-fight-makes-no-sense-set-sights-on-one-name\/","title":{"rendered":"Team \u2018Poatan\u2019 Claims Chimaev Fight Makes No Sense, Set Sights on One Name"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\nUltimate Fighting Championship<\/a> beltholder Alex
\nPereira<\/a> and his team believe they can call the shots on who is
\nnext for him.<\/p>\n

Fans of \u201cPoatan\u201d early await his next challenge, after reclaiming
\nthe light heavyweight throne in October 2025. Pereira exacted
\nrevenge on Russia\u2019s Magomed
\nAnkalaev<\/a>, knocking him out in 80 seconds to avenge a defeat
\nsuffered months earlier. This made the former kickboxer the third
\nman to hold the 205-pound title twice, joining Randy
\nCouture<\/a> and Jon Jones<\/a> on
\nthat illustrious list.<\/p>\n

\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

While Pereira recovers from an apparent foot injury sustained in
\nthe Ankalaev rematch, the UFC is rumored to be lining up a likely
\ntitle eliminator in the form of Carlos
\nUlberg<\/a> against Jiri
\nProchazka<\/a>. Other potential foes include newly minted
\nmiddleweight king Khamzat
\nChimaev<\/a>, who has threatened to move up in weight, as well as a
\npossible \u201cPoatan\u201d move to heavyweight to try to make major MMA
\nhistory as a champ in three divisions.<\/p>\n

A third option, and the one that he and his camp have pushed for
\nthe most, is a heavyweight encounter with Jones. Speaking with
\nSherdog, Pereira\u2019s manager, Ed Soares, feels that of all the
\noptions on the table, a battle against Jones is one that would best
\ncement his athlete\u2019s all-time great status.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, having a chance at a third belt would be something very
\nspecial and important for him, but Jon Jones is the fight we want.
\nIt would be a legacy fight,\u201d the manager and Legacy Fighting Alliance<\/a> CEO argued.<\/p>\n

In terms of simply keeping the light heavyweight division moving
\nand taking on a new test, Pereira\u2019s team suggest that Ulberg would
\nmake the most sense. However, there is one bout in particular that
\nthey have turned their noses at: Chimaev.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean,\u201d Soares asked when Chimaev\u2019s name was raised as
\na possible adversary. \u201cChimaev just won the middleweight title and
\nhasn\u2019t even defended it yet. Look at everything \u2018Poatan\u2019 has done
\nin recent years, it wouldn\u2019t make any sense.\u201d<\/p>\n

Heavyweight kingpin Tom
\nAspinall<\/a> still requires some recovery time after multiple
\nsurgeries from his eye pokes from Ciryl Gane<\/a>,
\nso an interim heavyweight title has been floated. Soares does not
\nthink that is a decent option either, and has another bout in mind
\nshould that come to fruition.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf it’s going to be an interim title fight with Gane, they should
\ncall Volkov, who beat him in the first fight,\u201d Soares pitched.<\/p>\n

\u2019Pitbull\u2019 in April, Pantoja in June<\/h2>\n

Soares is not solely the manager of Pereira, and has a stable of
\nathletes under his umbrella including the aforementioned Volkov.
\nBoth Patricio
\nFreire<\/a> and Alexandre
\nPantoja<\/a> remain members of his flock, and he opted to reveal a
\nbit of information on both.<\/p>\n

When it comes to \u201cPitbull,\u201d Soares claimed that the former Bellator MMA<\/a> great is in advanced negotiations to
\nreturn to the Octagon in April, but could not reveal the
\nprospective foe or at which event Freire would return. However, he
\ndid have a clearer picture for ex-flyweight champ Pantoja, which
\nwould be a rematch with Joshua Van<\/a>
\nthis summer.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were no fractures or ligament injuries [sustained by
\nPantoja],\u201d Soares reiterated. \u201cI believe that in June, it could be
\na little before or a little after, Pantoja will already be having
\nthe rematch and regaining his belt.\u201d<\/p>\n