Alex Pereira has the required tools to be a three-division UFC champion, according to his coach Glover Teixeira.
Pereira can already claimed world title in the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions since entering the UFC as a 3-1 novice in late 2021, going on to headline some of the most historic events in the organisation’s history.
The Brazilian, also formerly a two-division champion in kickboxing, will look to extend his 205-pound championship reign this weekend at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City, Utah when he takes on top contender Khalil Rountree in what is expected to be a fight that will showcase both fighters’ stand-up prowess.
But after that? Pereira has made noises about possibly testing himself at heavyweight — and while interim champion Tom Aspinall is at the top of the queue for the next heavyweight world title bout after Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic finally fight in New York next month, his coach Glover Teixeira says that Pereira can achieve anything he sets his mind to.
“To be honest, I’m confident that he can do anything he wants,” Teixeira said to The Schmo, as noted by MMA Junkie.
“He can fight at heavyweight and destroy the heavyweights there because the strength, the ability to read the opponents, and in and out, and the power. He’s more powerful than any heavyweight I’ve trained with. Of course, any heavyweight, Tom Aspinall, Stipe… got KO power, as well. But Alex is way up there.”
And when it comes to heavyweight champion Jones?
“There’s no comparison,” Teixeira explained. “I know Jon Jones is a great fighter. He’s a great martial artist as well. Just like Alex, he studies the guy. But power, there’s no comparison. Alex has different power. Like George Foreman power. Alex is different. Timing and the power is different. He has tremendous power. I never in my life sparred with a guy that hits as hard.”