After claiming a second UFC title, Alex Pereira‘s training partner Glover Teixeira believes Pereira has the potential to move up to heavyweight in the future.
Alex Pereira, the name rings a bell, right? Well, he’s the guy who knocked out Jiri Prochazka in November, bagging a second UFC title. His training buddy, Glover Teixeira, reckons there’s more gold in them hills for Pereira.
Now, Pereira’s no ordinary fighter. He’s a champion in both GLORY Kickboxing and UFC. He mentioned in a chat on MMA Fighting’s Trocação Franca podcast before UFC 295 that a move to heavyweight was too soon to consider. But now, with another UFC title under his belt, Teixeira thinks it’s a possibility.
Teixeira’s words on Trocação Franca were, “It’s all a process.” He referred to Pereira as ‘Poatan,’ a disciplined pro. He was all praise for Pereira’s ability to make 185, no easy feat. Few can do that, he said.
Teixeira added, “I’m not saying few can fight in the UFC, much less win the belt, but to do what he did, losing that much weight, not many can do.” He estimated that only about 10% of UFC fighters can manage a weight cut like Pereira’s. It was brutal, but ‘Poatan’ had the discipline for it.
Pereira’s journey is impressive. He won three straight UFC bouts before stopping Israel Adesanya to claim the UFC middleweight title in his eighth professional MMA fight in 2022. After losing a rematch to Adesanya, ‘Poatan’ decided to move up a division. He then scored back-to-back victories over Jan Blachowicz and Prochazka, ending 2023 with another UFC belt. His record? A solid 9-2 overall in the sport.
The UFC heavyweight division currently has two champs, Jon Jones and interim titleholder Tom Aspinall. Teixeira thinks ‘Poatan’ would be as strong as a horse at heavyweight, but he wouldn’t advise him to bulk up like Jones.
Teixeira explained, “If he were to move up, he would change his diet and training routine outside the camp to gain mass.” Pereira walks around at 233 pounds and Teixeira thinks he could go to 246, but not more. He believes 242 would be good.
As for who’s up next for Pereira’s UFC light heavyweight title in 2024? The UFC hasn’t spilled the beans yet. But no doubt, it’ll be a fight worth watching.