UFC champ Alex Pereira scoffs at Jamahal Hill's KO prediction: 'He will go on the ground, as well'

UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira expects Jamahal Hill to resort to grappling like most of his past opponents.

At UFC 295, Pereira (9-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) knocked out Jiri Prochazka to claim the vacant light heavyweight title that Hill relinquished after he ruptured his Achilles tendon. Hill (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) is expected to challenge Pereira for the title in his return, and “Poatan” suggests he might be his most favorable matchup at 205 pounds.

“I think I proved myself in the light heavyweight division with the fight against Jiri, winning the title, and obviously as well with the fight against Jan Błachowicz,” Pereira said on his YouTube channel through an interpreter.

“If I would compare these three fighters – Jamahal, Jan and Jiri – and someone would tell me, like, ‘Hey, choose one you would like to fight,’ I would choose Jamahal because I think he’s a good opponent for me.”

Hill vowed to put Pereira to sleep when they fight. However, the former two-division Glory Kickboxing champion doubts the fight stays on the feet for too long.

“I think it’s just a little bit over or too much, as well, looking at my story, my history in kickboxing to say I will stand striking, and I will knock him out and whatever,” Pereira continued.

“Because finally all the people are always trying it, and I’m sure he wants to strike, but when he sees it’s not working, he will go on the ground, as well, and this is what happened in the other fights too. I think Jamahal is a good fight for me, and I think he was a little bit over with his statement.”