Kuniev Calls Pereira's No. 3 Heavyweight Ranking 'Very Strange'

Rizvan Kuniev does not understand how Alex Pereira climbed so high in the heavyweight division. Speaking at UFC 333 media day on Wednesday, the heavyweight contender called Pereira's No. 3 spot in the promotion's Meta rankings "very strange," given that Pereira is 0-1 at heavyweight.

"As far as I'm concerned, I think it's AI that does those rankings because it doesn't really make much sense," Kuniev said. He thinks Pereira sits so high because the rankings look at his accolades as a champion in two weight classes.

"To go on No. 3 in heavyweight after one loss, I think that's very strange because at least give him a couple more fights. Nobody really saw what he can do."

Pereira over Pavlovich

Kuniev fights Alexander Volkov in Abu Dhabi this Saturday, coming off wins over Tyrell Fortune and Jailton Almeida. Asked whom he would want next if a title shot does not come right away, he named the winner of Pereira against Sergei Pavlovich, with a preference for Pereira. Pavlovich is a countryman, and Kuniev said he would rather face one of the many other top-10 heavyweights who are not from where he is from.

Pereira, he said, is a very big media name, and a win over him would "do a lot in media" for Kuniev personally. Pereira and Pavlovich meet at UFC 335 on Dec. 12 in Las Vegas.

Bad blood with Volkov

Kuniev and Volkov have trained together in the past, but Kuniev said they are not friends. He takes issue with Volkov bringing up his doping suspension from his PFL days in 2023. In Kuniev's telling, Volkov's remarks are an attempt to cover up fear, and he expects Volkov's team to say after Saturday that they are glad the fight is over.

Both men have the same results against Almeida and Curtis Blaydes in the UFC, beating the Brazilian and losing a decision to Blaydes. Kuniev still sees them on different levels based on their performances against both.

A win over the top-ranked Volkov would put Kuniev in the conversation for a title shot. Champion Ciryl Gane makes his first defense against Josh Hokit on Nov. 14 at UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden.

Source: MMA Fighting