It’s been just a few days ago that Daniel Cormier claimed that he was bewildered that Alex Pereira reached such a high level of success in the UFC with “no wrestling skills”…

But he might have just eaten his own words.

Cormier first said:

I’m sitting there at night, going: “How’s he doing this?”
When, with all due respect because Alex and I have a great relationship, he can’t wrestle.

He does not know how to wrestle.

He further added:

When they grab his leg, he kind of just falls down.
He can’t wrestle.

When he can’t wrestle, I’m like: “How is this happening when he can’t wrestle?”
But he has got this singular skill set that is so good that it does not matter what he can’t do.

He’s so good at what he does that he’s now the best in the world.

However, Pereira recently encountered Cormier at a hotel – sparking an impromptu grappling session between the two MMA stars.

And, well, it seems that Pereira got the better of the exchange.
Watch the video below and let us know what you think.

Flagrei essa cena entre Alex Poatan e Daniel Cormier nos bastidores do #UFCRio . Os dois começaram brincando de sparring até que o brasileiro colocou o americano pra baixo e teve até segurança pra separar 😂 Competitivo ou não o homem? 🗿 pic.twitter.com/YXxduQgeYS

— Coutinho (@luis_coutinho) May 1, 2024

Cormier shared his impressions of Pereira with Chael Sonnen, stating:

“Honestly Chael. He [Pereira] is one of the most talented wrestlers I’ve ever come into contact with. The strength is unmatched. Alex Pereira could possibly make it to the US Olympic team.” As the UFC community voices their interest in seeing Pereira move up to the heavyweight division, there’s growing excitement about his potential bouts, particularly against Jon Jones. While enhancing his wrestling abilities remains crucial for these high-level encounters, Cormier’s praise highlights the importance of Pereira’s wrestling in his overall training.

The current UFC heavyweight champion, Jon Jones, has expressed interest in a matchup with Pereira, fueling fan excitement. Pereira’s remarkable win over Israel Adesanya has already proven his ability to take on elite fighters. With continued improvements in his wrestling, Pereira stands as a potential challenge to Jones’ championship reign.