Defending the Belt for the Third Time

Alex Pereira is known for his extraordinary strength, a trait that sets him apart from others, according to his coach and mentor, Glover Teixeira. Pereira (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) is preparing to defend his light heavyweight title this weekend at UFC 307 against challenger Khalil Rountree (13-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) in Salt Lake City, Utah. Pereira claimed the vacant light heavyweight belt after defeating Jiri Prochazka on November 11, 2023. Since then, Pereira has defended his title twice, with his most recent defense occurring at UFC 303 in June. In that bout, he once again faced Prochazka, who was defeated for the second time. On October 5, Pereira will defend his light heavyweight belt for the third time, this time against Rountree.

Pereira Eyes a Return to Middleweight

Aside from his light heavyweight reign, Pereira has also expressed interest in competing again in the middleweight division, where the current champion is Dricus du Plessis. Pereira aims to reclaim the middleweight belt, which he won and then lost to Israel Adesanya. While it remains to be seen when he will return to the middleweight division, one person who has unwavering belief in Pereira’s abilities is his coach, Teixeira. Speaking in an interview with The Schmo, Teixeira shared his thoughts on Pereira’s potential.

“If I’m being honest, I’m convinced that he can do whatever he wants. He can fight in the heavyweight division and destroy opponents there too. He possesses raw power and the ability to read his opponents inside and out,” said Teixeira. He continued, “He’s more powerful than any heavyweight I’ve trained with.”

A Serious Threat to Heavyweights

Teixeira is full of praise for Pereira, recognizing the strength of heavyweights like Tom Aspinall and Stipe Miocic. Despite their power, Teixeira believes that Pereira is on par with them. The current heavyweight champion is Jon Jones, who once faced Teixeira in the light heavyweight division at UFC 172 in April 2014. Jones won that fight via unanimous decision, but Teixeira makes it clear that Pereira’s power is on another level compared to Jones.

“There’s no comparison. Jon Jones is an incredible fighter and an amazing martial artist. But when it comes to raw power, there’s no comparison. Alex is different. I’ve never sparred with someone who hits as hard as he does,” Teixeira stated.

Pereira’s raw strength and his potential across divisions have made him one of the most intriguing fighters in the UFC today. His ability to compete at the highest levels in both the light heavyweight and potentially heavyweight divisions leaves many wondering if he can dominate across multiple weight classes. With a win against Rountree, Pereira could solidify his status as one of the most dangerous fighters in the UFC.