Longtime UFC analyst Joe Rogan holds a former titleholder in all-time high esteem.
Joe Rogan has seen the biggest UFC twists, turns, and jaw-dropping highlights during his time at the broadcast desk.
Rogan, a longtime Mixed Martial Arts fan and practitioner, is also a historian of knowledge when it comes to the greatest combatants to ever appear in the Octagon. He’s seen the best and the worst of what MMA has to offer, including some of the sport’s most powerful strikers.
But for Rogan, one man stands above the rest.
Joe Rogan says Alex Pereira hits harder than ‘anyone’ in MMA and boxing history
Rogan had a front row seat to see some of the most wicked knockouts in UFC history, at the hands of all-time juggernauts like Francis Ngannou, Rampage Jackson, and Sean O’Malley. Before Ngannou parted ways with the UFC in 2023, he treated fans to sheer destruction inside the Octagon.
Not even Ngannou can compare with the power of a current UFC superstar, in Rogan’s opinion.
During a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan explained the sheer ferocity of former UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.
“Alex Pereira is the scariest kickboxer that’s ever competed in the sport,” Rogan said of Pereira. “The one guy above all that if he hits you once, you’re dead…out of all the guys I’ve ever seen fight, I don’t think anybody I can say that more than that guy. Including in kickboxing, in everything! He has more power than anybody I’ve ever seen…
“Except Francis Ngannou, but Francis Ngannou is 265 [pounds], but weight class to weight class, Francis can put anybody out too, but he’s not at the same skill level as ‘Poatan’…that dude’s terrifying, absolutely terrifying. That power is from God; he’s got a weird gift that’s just different from anyone.”
Pereira earned ‘Fighter of the Year’ honors by amassing three finishes in 2024, with all three wins coming in pay-per-view main events. His TKO win over Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303 came on weeks’ notice after Conor McGregor‘s withdrawal from the card.
Pereira’s UFC light heavyweight title reign came to a screeching halt courtesy of Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 last month by unanimous decision. Despite the abrupt end to his light heavyweight reign, Pereira will likely get another chance at championship glory later this year.
Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira 2 is the fight to make at light heavyweight
Almost immediately after the UFC 313 main event, Pereira and Ankalaev verbally agreed to a rematch later in 2025, potentially in Chicago after Ankalaev’s recent teases. Ankalaev hasn’t lost a fight since his promotional debut against Paul Craig in March 2018, and is on a 14-fight unbeaten streak.
Before the loss to Ankalaev, Pereira was in line for potential super fights with the likes of Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall. But as he prepares to potentially get the light heavyweight belt back, his heavyweight aspirations are on the shelf.
While Rogan holds Ngannou and other knockout artists in elite standing, no one compares to Pereira. He’ll look to earn another highlight in his return later this year.
