Alex Pereira is backing Sean Strickland to shock the MMA world this weekend at UFC 328.
Strickland enters Saturday’s main event in Newark as a sizable underdog against undefeated middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev, but Pereira believes his former opponent and training partner has the tools to make things extremely difficult for “Borz.”
During the UFC 328 Countdown, “Poatan” reflected on how his perception of Strickland changed after sharing the Octagon and later training with him.
“Before our fight, I saw him differently,” Pereira said. “But once he stepped into the octagon, you could see it on his face. He was a different guy. He’s a warrior.”
The Brazilian knockout artist famously stopped Strickland at UFC 276 to earn his shot at the middleweight title. But after the fight, the two eventually developed mutual respect and spent time training together at the UFC Performance Institute.
“The first time we trained together was after our fight,” Pereira explained. “I learned a lot from those sessions. He’s got a lot of experience. He knows his craft.”
Alex Pereira Believes Sean Strickland’s Jab Could Trouble Khamzat Chimaev
Pereira specifically pointed to Strickland’s relentless pressure and jab-heavy style as key weapons heading into the title fight.
“He’s always moving forward, firing that jab,” Pereira said. “That’s a great weapon he has.”
The former two-division UFC champion also offered strategic advice for how Strickland can potentially neutralize Chimaev’s wrestling-heavy attack.
“He’s got to stay composed, keep pressing forward, stay alert, watch out for the takedowns, and use his jab and front kick,” Pereira said. “I’m really excited and motivated for this fight, and I hope he gets the win.”
While “Poatan” is focused on supporting Strickland this weekend, he also has a historic opportunity looming next month.
On June 14, Pereira is scheduled to face Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title at UFC Freedom 250 in Washington, D.C. A victory would make Pereira the first fighter in UFC history to capture championships across three different divisions since joining the promotion in 2021.