Andrew Ravens
Laura Sanko is not ready to hand Alex Pereira the greatest of all time designation, even if he wins the interim heavyweight title at UFC Freedom 250 on Sunday. Speaking to MMA Junkie, the UFC analyst pushed back on Dana White‘s suggestion that a third-division title would vault Pereira above Jon Jones in the GOAT debate.
White had recently implied that a win over Ciryl Gane — which would make Pereira the first fighter in UFC history to win a version of a belt in three separate weight classes — would be enough to make the argument for Pereira as the best ever. Sanko acknowledged the emotional appeal of that argument but stopped short of endorsing it.
“It’s a little too soon,” Sanko said. “It’s a little bit too soon for me, personally. If he’s able to do that, the frothiness in me is like, ‘Yes, you’re the greatest of all time.’ But then I sit back and I’m like, ‘I’m sorry, Jon Jones’ resume is just — it’s not the same. It’s not the same.”
Sanko was careful to frame her position as a matter of context rather than a criticism of what Pereira has accomplished, making clear she views him as a uniquely remarkable performer whose achievements may never be replicated.
“Alex Pereira has been unbelievable, and he’s been one of one. I will tell you this: I don’t know if anyone will ever do that again if he does it. Even if Ilia Topuria, even Islam Makhachev. I don’t know that anyone will ever do that again, period. Ever. One of one in history, but I don’t know if I’m ready to give him the GOAT.”
