“Poatan” vs. “Borz” in Brazilian jiu-jitsu?
It’s been a month since Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight champion Alex Pereira regained his title with a knockout win over Magomed Ankalaev in the main event of UFC 320 (watch highlights). Now, with a potential super fight against Jon Jones at UFC White House still up in the air, it seems Pereira is getting a little bored.
Out of nowhere, the Brazilian powerhouse responded to a month-old challenge from UFC Middleweight champion Khamzat
Chimaev — and surprisingly, he’s open to meeting “Borz” on his own turf.
“That guy says he wants to fight with me, he’s gotta get out there, understand?” Pereira said. “He’s far, but I could challenge fight in his area if he wants. Let me look at you directly, let’s fight in your area. Let’s fight in grappling. And another thing, we can fight in the UFC. UFC is doing BJJ, right? UFC BJJ. Let’s do that then, let’s make it happen.”
Pereira even upped the ante by promising to donate all proceeds to charity.
“Another thing,” Pereira added. “I don’t even know how much I’ll make – good money, though, you know who I am, the money is good—that money will be donated 100 percent to charity. That work for you? Chama.”
Chimaev, who has been chasing a fight with Pereira for years, wasted no time accepting the challenge on social media, writing simply: “Let’s go, easy money.”
While it’s not mixed martial arts (MMA), a grappling match between these two would still be must-see TV — a clash of styles between Chimaev’s elite wrestling and Pereira’s rapidly improving ground game.
And with both men interested, UFC BJJ might have just found its first blockbuster match.
