Tomorrow night on the main card of UFC 276 we are going to see a title eliminator in the middleweight division. The entertaining and popular Sean Strickland (25-3) is back as he takes on one of the most decorated strikers in the UFC in Alex Pereira (5-1).
Pereira joined the UFC last year after he dropped his Glory Kickboxing Light Heavyweight title in September. That loss snapped a nine-fight winning streak and Glory that saw Pereira become the middleweight and light heavyweight champion.
Pereira’s most known for his two wins including a knockout over current UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. So far, he’s 2-0 inside the octagon with one of those wins being a flying knee knockout.
Standing in his way tomorrow is one of the more charismatic fighters on the roster in Sean Strickland. Strickland had a decent UFC run going in the welterweight division and then he got in a motorcycle accident that almost cost him his career.
When he returned to the UFC in 2020, he returned to the middleweight division and he’s been sensational. He’s gone 5-0 on his way to the fourth ranking in the division. Whoever wins tomorrow night is likely getting a title shot.
UFC 276 Prediction
It’s crazy to think about this fight when you look at it on paper. It almost reminds me of when Brock Lesnar was in the UFC and he was jumping in there with Frank Mir and Heath Herring right off the bat.
Alex Pereira is unranked and he has two fights in the UFC. Yet, he’s taking on the fourth ranked fighter in the division with a chance to secure a title shot. Even crazier is that on my sites, he’s the betting favorite.
Why is that? Well, as mentioned, he’s arguably the most decorated striker in the UFC right now. Sean Strickland does his best work on the feet so he’s going to be striking with someone who should be on a completely different level.
So the pick at UFC 276 should be Pereira right? Well, I wouldn’t rule out Strickland at all. Sean Strickland has good grappling and he will mix in wrestling in this matchup. It’s all going to come down to whether or not he can get Pereira down and keep him there.
Pereira showed a great ability to get up after being taken down in his last fight. The standup will be fun, but I’m really going to be watching the grappling at UFC 276. Ultimately, I think I’m going to pick Alex Pereira in this one.
I also think he’s going to get a stoppage. Too much striking is going to occur and Pereira is just too lethal. While Strickland is really good and as tough as they come, he might be out of his element in a striking matchup here.
Prediction: Alex Pereira by TKO – Round 2