Alex Pereira says Sean Strickland will join his camp for Khalil Rountree Jr. fight at UFC 307
Alex Pereira will have a familiar face in his UFC 307 training camp as he prepares for his third defense of the UFC light heavyweight title. As the champion announced on his YouTube channel, Pereira plans to bring in his friend and former opponent Sean Strickland to help him train in the altitude of Salt Lake City.
Pereira and Strickland have trained on several occasions before. Since their clash in 2022, the two have developed a friendship. Strickland later became the UFC middleweight champion and 'Poatan' moved up to obtain the light heavyweight belt.
From the video Pereira posted on YouTube, Strickland will join his current team, which is already full of competent training partners. UFC middleweight Cesar Almeida was seen in the video along with Yousri Belgaroui and Pereira's head coach Glover Teixeira. The 36-year-old's younger sister, Aline Pereira, was also seen training and traveling with the team.
Strickland, however, is more than just an additional body as he is recognized by many for having arguably the best cardio in the UFC middleweight division. In a fight that will occur at over 4,000 feet of elevation, cardio tips from 'Tarzan' could provide a lot of value to Pereira as he prepares to face Khalil Rountree Jr.
Watch the full video on YouTube below:
Alex Pereira's fight with Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307
On Oct. 5, Alex Pereira will become the first UFC champion to fight three times in 2024 when he takes on No. 8-ranked contender Khalil Rountree Jr. in another title defense.
Pereira remains undefeated at 205 pounds since moving up in 2023 and gets another semi-favorable matchup on paper against a striker who has no intention of shooting a takedown.
Pereira, a former GLORY Kickboxing two-division champion, enters the fight on a three-fight knockout streak that includes two of the best performances of 2024.
Although he is not the highest-ranked light heavyweight contender, Rountree has not lost a fight since 2021, winning his last five. The Muay Thai striker has never won a fight by submission and owns nine knockouts on his resume, including his last win over former title challenger Anthony Smith.