Exclusive: Diana Belbita says she'd love her future kids to idolize Alex Pereira: "That's a superstar"

Diana Belbita has words of high praise for Alex Pereira. The Romanian martial artist, who fights by way of Canada, has suggested that she'd want her future children to learn from how Pereira conducts himself inside and outside the combat sports realm.

The 28-year-old Belbita (15-9 MMA) is currently a UFC women's strawweight contender. She made her professional MMA debut back in April 2014 and UFC debut in Oct. 2019. 'Warrior Princess' has competed in the bantamweight, flyweight, and strawweight divisions over the course of her MMA career.

In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda MMA, Diana Belbita was asked about former UFC middleweight champion and reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira's meteoric rise. Some view him as the potential new face of the UFC.

Since his octagon debut in Nov. 2021, 'Poatan' has stepped in to save fight cards on short notice, knocked several elite fighters out, and become a two-division champion. Belbita acknowledged it and asserted that she'd want her future children to idolize Pereira. Belbita stated:

"That guy is amazing. I don't know how he's doing it. But just think about it; not just the fighting, the way he's a character out of the fight too. I love that guy. The way he's doing, the guy's a superstar. That's a superstar. The guy just came to UFC not long ago, and, you know, he's just becoming two-division champ and beat all those guys that are, 'Oh, I'm going to kill this guy. His wrestling is trash. This, this ...' And then, he proved the difference."

Apart from citing his UFC success despite his supposed lack of wrestling and overall grappling skills, Belbita also implied that Pereira is a great role model as a person:

"Like, now, I love the guy. He is definitely -- he should be the most of the kids' role model. Like if I would have a kid, I would love my kids to want to be like him, like Alex Pereira."

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Diana Belbita foresees UFC superstar Alex Pereira's brand rising to even greater heights

Diana Belbita notably weighed in on the grand welcome Alex Pereira received in Canada earlier this year, with everyone chanting his signature catchphrase, 'Chama!'

Belbita lightheartedly recalled that she and her teammates at the gym jokingly use the catchphrase that's become wildly popular in the fight game. She then prophesied Pereira's star rising to even greater heights:

"Yeah, I really think this thing is gonna get really big. Like, I know it's at a really high level right now, but he's gonna be even bigger than that. This guy is gonna achieve what maybe nobody achieved already."

'Warrior Princess' seemed to suggest that Alex Pereira made a mammoth impact on the UFC in an extremely short time, unlike someone who's been in the promotion for several years and only been able to slowly work their way up.

Belbita seemed to echo the sentiments of many fans that the lack of wear and tear that comes with a lengthy UFC stint could prolong his combat sports career overall.

Furthermore, Belbita indicated that the 37-year-old Pereira stormed into the promotion and dominantly defeated multiple top-tier combatants. She lauded him for his composed reaction to sustaining a groin strike against Jamahal Hill at UFC 300, wherein he stopped referee Herb Dean from intervening and immediately knocked Hill out.

Presently, Belbita's recovering from an arm injury, whereas Pereira's next fight hasn't been officially announced. 'Poatan' has been open to defending his light heavyweight title, whilst not ruling out a heavyweight title quest in the future.