UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira has been getting help from an ex-opponent and fellow former middleweight titleholder while in Utah for his upcoming defense.
Pereira has returned to the "Beehive State" for the first time since his debut at 205 pounds in July 2023, which saw him get the better of Jan Błachowicz on the scorecards.
Since then, "Poatan" has achieved two-division champ status and successfully defended the light heavyweight crown twice. And having violently stopped Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka this year, Pereira's third assignment of 2024 headlines UFC 307 this weekend.
The Brazilian looks set for another striking showdown, this time opposite a fellow knockout artist in Khalil Rountree. And to boost his chances of another victory, Pereira and his team have turned to Sean Strickland.
Teixeira Touts Strickland's Ability To Hang With Pereira In Training
During a recent interview with The Schmo, Glover Teixeira was asked about the impact Strickland's presence has as Pereira's camp for UFC 307 comes to a close in Salt Lake City.
While the American was emphatically flattened by Pereira when they shared the Octagon in 2022, Teixeira suggested that "Tarzan" is one of few who can go toe-to-toe with the former GLORY Kickboxing champ in sparring.
Sean is, you know, incredibly tough. He's good everywhere. He's a great mixed martial artist," Teixeira said. "He knows how to train well, you know? And he's a guy that can, to be honest, hang with Alex. Alex can push his pace a little more. We love that Sean (came) over here today and helped Alex.
Pereira will hope that his work with Strickland and the others who've been a part of his latest fight camp pays dividends on Saturday night, when "The War Horse" will have a monumental upset over the Brazilian standout in his sights.