UFC Commentator Carlos Barreto Disappointed by Alex Pereira’s Latest Callout

UFC Fight Pass commentator Carlos Barreto was disappointed by Alex Pereira’s decision to call out Israel Adesanya for a trilogy fight following his championship victory at UFC 295.

“Adesanya tried to come up to light heavyweight and lost his first fight against Jan Blachowicz. ‘Poatan’ moved up, defeated Blachowicz and got the belt after beating another former champion, [Jiri Prochazka],” Barreto said on his weekly videocast, Papo de Luta. “Adesanya already said he is taking some time off and in addition, he has unfinished business to solve at middleweight with [Sean Strickland or Dricus Du Plessis).

“‘Poatan’ should understand that the best storyline for him is undoubtedly Jamahal Hill. Glover [Teixeira] was beaten by Prochaska, and ‘Poatan’ avenged him. It would have been a perfect time to use the microphone to say ‘Hill get well soon, I ́m waiting for you and I ́m going to beat you up and avenge Glover again.’ That's the narrative that will fill up his bank account. After that, he could be called UFC and Glory double champion — and mentor double avenger. Also, I believe Hill has a perfect style match up for him.”

The Carlson Gracie black belt and former UFC and Pride fighter also praised Prochazka for supporting referee Marc Goddard’s controversial stoppage in the UFC 295 main event.

“Prochazka showed that he is not only a great fighter, but he also has a great character,” Barreto said. “He was giving ‘Poatan’ a tough fight. Most fighters would agree with Joe Rogan's opinion and put Goddard to the fire by asking for an immediate rematch — which could probably be granted by the UFC. But he had a great attitude recognizing the referee was right. Congratulations to him.”

Meanwhile, Barreto expects a long championship reign for newly-crowned interim heavyweight king Tom Aspinall.

"Anyone who followed my commentary on Saturday on UFC Fight Pass or here on Monday on Papo de Luta knows that since his first fights in UFC I said that this guy would be a future UFC champion,” Barreto said. “As a heavyweight I always said Tom is a complete package. He is fast as a middleweight, has great boxing skills and has a level on the ground we haven’t seen since [Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Fabricio Werdum].

“Additionally, this kid has a champion’s mind. How many would accept a short-notice invitation against a killer like Pavlovich, who was coming from a complete camp? Jones and Miocic will fight and retire and Aspinall’s reign will last. At least I don’t see anyone to beat him now, after Jones retires.”