Everyone was very excited when Alex Pereira moved up to heavyweight to compete for a third title at UFC Freedom 250. After the controversial loss to Ciryl Gane, however, the enormity of the task became much clearer.
Gane broke Pereira badly early in their fight, setting up the finish of the fight where “Poatan” requires he was obliterated with illegal blows to the back of the head. But there is no doubt about one point: the heavyweights hit harder, and Pereira may not be able to withstand those blows.
Now Pereira returns to the clock UFC 335 On December 12, in a five-round joint match against Sergey Pavlovich at heavyweight. Usually the Russian doesn’t get his money’s worth from the fans, but you can tell “Poatan” does feeling a bit nervous about it. However, that is not the case with Pereira’s longtime head coach, Glover Teixeira.
In the year statement to Sherdog, Teixeira explained how this fight with Pavlovic will be easier than the Gane disaster.
“Any heavyweight fight is dangerous and it’s definitely not going to the fifth round,” Teixeira said. “It suits ‘Poatan’ better than Ciryl Gane’s style. Gane moves more while Pavlovich stays more seated. ‘Poatan’ needs to fight the right fight, keep his distance and be faster to win.”
Teixeira is right to point out that Gane is a faster, more movement-based fighter than Pavlovich, whose footwork doesn’t generate YouTube technique videos. The concern is still there of Pereira not being able to absorb the power of the heavyweight. When asked if the former middleweight and light heavyweight champion has plans in his old divisions, Teixeira indicated no.
“Poatan’s goal is still to win a third title and that’s what he’s focused on now,” he said.