"He's fighting elite professionals" - When Joe Rogan and Sean O'Malley debated whether Alex Pereira is the greatest combat sports athlete of all time

Alex Pereira was once the subject of a GOAT debate between Joe Rogan and Sean O'Malley. Specifically, the aforementioned pair argued over the merit of 'Poatan' being the greatest combat sports athlete of all time. Their conversation took place on episode #133 of the JRE MMA Show.

The topic came up when they discussed Henry Cejudo's reason for retiring and subsequently returning to MMA. O'Malley brought that Cejudo is often touted as the combat sports GOAT, before taking the chance to dismiss Pereira's potential spot in the debate. Rogan, however, made a brief counter-case.

"Yeah, [Henry Cejudo] won a gold medal in the Olympics. However, [Alex] Pereira, when he was fighting in Glory [Kickboxing]? He's fighting elite professionals. Whereas Henry is wrestling amateurs."

Check out Joe Rogan's argument for Alex Pereira (1:01:48):

Cejudo's gold medal in freestyle wrestling is widely regarded as one of his greatest accomplishments, especially since he was the youngest American to ever do so at the time. Moreover, his championships across two UFC divisions, flyweight and bantamweight, led to his moniker, 'Triple C.'

Pereira, meanwhile, became the first simultaneous two-division champion in Glory Kickboxing history, capturing the promotion's middleweight and light heavyweight belts. Afterward, he replicated the feat, to a degree, in the UFC, first becoming the middleweight champion before dropping it and becoming the 205-pound king.

In 2024 alone, 'Poatan' has defended his light heavyweight title thrice, beating two former champions in Jamahal Hill and Jiří Prochazka, and a high-level striker in Khalil Rountree Jr., finishing all of them. Now, reports have arisen that he may very well step in on short-notice to headline UFC 310 at the end of the year.

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Alex Pereira has beaten more UFC champions than Henry Cejudo

Alex Pereira debuted in late 2021 and has already accomplished more than most fighters could in three years.

'Poatan' has beaten two former UFC middleweight champions in Sean Strickland and Israel Adesanya, and three former UFC light heavyweight champions in Jan Błachowicz, Jamahal Hill, and Jiří Procházka. Furthermore, he finished all of them, besides Błachowicz.

Meanwhile, Henry Cejudo has beaten a former UFC flyweight champion in Demetrious Johnson and two former UFC bantamweight champions in T.J. Dillashaw and Dominick Cruz.

This totals three former champions for Cejudo, compared to Pereira's five.