The MW division just got put on NOTICE
[
#UFC268 | Prelims are LIVE on ESPNews & ESPN+ ] pic.twitter.com/wZbuaYuLal— UFC (@ufc)
November 7, 2021
The training relationship between reigning UFC light heavyweight
champion Glover
Teixeira and former Glory Kickboxing title holder Alex
Pereira has been beneficial to both parties.
Jorge “Joinha” Guimaraes, who manages Teixeira and Pereira,
discussed how the two fighters have been helping each other ahead
of their upcoming bouts.
“Glover will face Jiri
Prochazka, one of the most dangerous strikers of the division,
in his first title defense at UFC 274 on May 7, and of course the
daily support of a top striker like ‘Poatan’ is great for
him,” Guimaraes told Sherdog.com.
According to Guimaraes, Teixeira’s help with Pereira’s camp is even
more evident. The 34-year-old Brazilian will make his second
Octagon appearance against Bruno Silva
at UFC Fight Night 203 on March 12.
“‘Poatan’ is improving so fast. But there are a lot of people
underestimating his MMA improvement,” said Guimaraes. “Besides
having dangerous submissions, the guy never gets tired. And of
course, training every day with one of the most dangerous grapplers
one division above is improving his poise.”
The current state of the UFC’s middleweight division makes
Guimaraes believe that a highly-anticipated third meeting between
current champ Israel
Adesanya and Pereira could happen sooner than anyone initially
expected. Pereira defeated Adesanya twice under kickboxing rules
from 2016 to 2017— including one knockout victory.
“[Marvin] Vettori lost twice to Adesanya, [Paulo
Costa] lost to Adesanya and Vettori, [Jared] Cannonier was
losing the fight against [Derek] Brunson,” Guimaraes pointed out.
“When I look at the Top 10 rankings, I sincerely see ‘Poatan’ as
the only man capable of defeating Adesanya in the current
landscape.”
That said, Guimaraes recognizes that Silva will be a legitimate
test for Pereira to prove that he is ready to ascend to contender
status at middleweight.
“Definitely ‘Blindado is one of the biggest threats in the
division, Guimaraes said. “I was really impressed by the way this
guy defeated [Alexander] Shemlenko in his hometown [at M-1
Challenge 93]. This guy fears nothing and deserves all the respect.
It will be a big dog’s fight. But if he really wants to test his
kickboxing skills, as he said, he will not have an happy ending.”