Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has joined Alex Pereira’s team out in Salt Lake City, Utah, as he helps the Brazilian superstar train for his upcoming world title fight; scheduled for next weekend against veteran Khalil Rountree Jr.
Having now seen Poatan’s preparation first-hand, Sean Strickland believes that the popular kickboxer will make ‘easy work’ of his latest title challenger, although he did also have some choice words for his new training partner over a potential move back down to middleweight.
Sean Strickland predicts Alex Pereira will make ‘easy work’ of UFC 307 title fight
In preparation for the upcoming title fight at UFC 307, Sean Strickland has now joined Alex Pereira and his team out in Salt Lake City and speaking to The Schmo, revealed what it’s been like training with his former opponent.
“[We’ve] had a lot of wars, the problem with Alex is that he hits really f***** hard you guys, really f**** hard but let me tell you why,” stated the outspoken brawler.
“When you get raised in the jungles of Brazil where you don’t have running water and surviving of Tapir and f***** wildebeest as an infant. And then you get worked in a tire shop, that’s a hard man to fight… It’s hard bro and my daddy issues don’t make up for that level of hardness, so it was good work.”
Since losing his middleweight title to Israel Adesanya, Pereira has been on an absolute tear in the light heavyweight division; rattling off four impressive wins in a row, including three consecutive knockouts in his last three bouts.
Khalil Rountree has himself scored four knockouts in his last five wins, although we haven’t seen ‘The War Horse’ cresting the UFC hill since a third-round finish of Anthony Smith in December 2023.
“I just can’t see Khalil pulling it off,” Strickland told Helen Yee a few minutes later, teasing how “I remember watching him fight Anthony Smith and I just can’t see it happening [against Alex].
“I don’t think he has the tools in the toolbox to beat Alex, he’s not knocking him out, he’s not out-striking him, he’s not out-wrestling him – I think Alex is going to make easy work of this fight.”
Sean Strickland tells Alex Pereira to stay at 205lbs and away from DDP
Despite Strickland currently helping prepare Alex Pereira for his next light heavyweight bout, there is a chance that the two could end up in the same division once again; with Poatan having previously teased a move back down to middleweight in the hope of besting champion Dricus Du Plessis.
Unsurprisingly, Strickland isn’t a fan of the idea of his new sparring partner dropping back down to 185lbs, especially as he himself is expected to rematch DDP at some point over the next six months.
“Alex, I know you worked in a tire shop but listen you’re not a poor Brazilian anymore, you have more money than all of us so how about you sit the f*** down, let me fight the Dutchman and then we’ll send him your way.”
“Here’s the thing Dutchman, the world knows that I won, you know I won,” Strickland said, as he addressed the South African directly: “God gave you a gift in that cut and I still won, I was going to walk through you for five rounds and you f***** know this.
- FUED: Sean Strickland claims he clashed with Khalil Rountree during the middle of a wrestling session
“I understand that you want to duck me a little bit and that’s fair, UFC, Hunter, Dana; they all said it’s down my man, so you give me the date… Let’s go to Vegas, let’s have a f***** war. Come to America, let’s do the man dance and give me back my belt you Dutchman.”
Earlier today, Du Plessis took the opportunity to troll middleweight contender Brendan Allen over his decision loss at UFC Paris.
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