Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereira is already widely considered to be one of the most dangerous and intimidating strikers on the entire UFC roster – and now that he ‘understands the game’ of MMA, fans are expecting an even more dominant display out in Utah.
The popular light heavyweight champion returns to action this weekend in Salt Lake City for his third UFC title fight of 2024; this time against veteran of the promotion, ‘The War Horse’, Khalil Rountree Jr.
Alex Pereira teases an improved skillset ahead of UFC 307 title clash
Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereira and his team traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah, several weeks ago with the goal of getting his body acclimatized to the elevation; with the city sitting around 1,300m (4,300ft) above sea level.
Speaking via the first episode of the UFC 307 Embedded series, Pereira and his long-term coach Glover Teixeira would explain how training for Rountree has resulted in a more confident and dangerous Poatan… A scary thought, considering how the Brazilian is already one of the most dangerous athletes in the entire world.
“We’ve already done the work and today we’re just moving around; getting the body active and cutting weight but there’s not much to do,” Teixeira explained as he watched the superstar training.
“Let’s just keep the eyes alert, the body, the soul, the spirit is great – be ready for war… I told everybody that he was going to be a champion within a year, I knew; the way he is and the way he works is incredible, I mean it’s a blessing for me to work with Alex and see his success – he deserves it all.”
Pereira himself would acknowledge that even after 13 fights in professional Mixed Martial Arts and countless years at the highest levels of kickboxing, they’re still finding ways to improve his overall skillset.
“This camp, I’ve made significant strides in my overall progress and my preparation. Like I said to Glover, ‘Now I understand this game’ – and he replied, ‘I can see that’.
“So, it seems like something has clicked,” stated Poatan, who enters this weekend on the back of a four-fight winning streak, the last three of which have ended via vicious knockout – “I feel very confident and great.
“We are doing everything right. I’m so glad with the things we’ve planned, to come here with the team three weeks before; everything’s perfect… It’s an important fight with a well-rounded fighter who has been knocking people out. Our styles match, me and Khalil. But it’s MMA [and] anything can happen.”
Fellow coach Plinio Cruz would also tease how despite being “one of the best of his generation, if not the best of all time,” Pereira’s improvements are because he still enters training camp with a rookie’s mindset.
“I’m not only happy, I’m proud; he’s got this fire but still having an apprentice’s mind to always learn more… He’s ready man, he’s ready for any challenge – I respect Khalil a lot… He’s a good striker, but I believe in the monster that me and Glover have created.”
Alex Pereira challenges Rountree with charitable cash pool on the line
Regardless of Pereira’s training, there is a certain expectation that if Khalil Rountree is to leave Utah as the new UFC champion, he’ll need to get Poatan to the ground on at least one occasion; despite ‘The War Horse’ claiming that he won’t shoot a single takedown.
Earlier in the week, Pereira and Cruz would sit down with veteran reporter Kevin Iole, with the Brazilian keen to offer a challenge to his upcoming opponent: Shoot a takedown, and you owe some money.
“Honestly bro, everybody who says that before he ends up shooting a takedown so it’s hard to believe… The only way he’ll believe [him is] if Khalil goes public to say, ‘I promise that I’m not going to shoot or take down this guy, and if I do, I’m going to donate a percentage of my purse to charity.’”
According to the duo, only “then Alex will leave and say ‘Okay, let’s bang,” this out on the feet.
Alex Pereira vs Khalil Rountree Jr is set for the main event of UFC 307, scheduled for this Saturday live from Salt Lake City, Utah.
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