"How is he doing this when he can't wrestle!" - Ex-UFC double champ explains why Alex Pereira's success in MMA is baffling
A former UFC double champion recently expressed his thoughts on Alex Pereira's achievements in mixed martial arts.
A former kickboxer, Pereira made his UFC debut in November 2021 and has since grown to become one of the organization's top stars, so much so, that he headlined the UFC's marquee UFC 300 card on April 13, 2024.
The Brazilian went from being a little-known fighter in the MMA world to a two-division UFC champion with six incredible knockout victories and two title defenses in just eight fights and less than three years. It just doesn't seem realistic!
Former UFC double champion Daniel Cormier is surprised by Pereira's ongoing success. Cormier talked with Chael Sonnen on the Good Guy/Bad Guy podcast about Pereira's ability to win fights without seemingly having a deep understanding of wrestling. He said:
''I’m sitting there at night going, how’s he doing this when he can't wrestle!. With all due respect because Alex and I have a great relationship, he can’t wrestle. He does not know how to wrestle''
Check out Daniel Cormier's comments below (30:15):
Pereira made his first light heavyweight title defense last weekend, defeating Jamahal Hill at UFC 300.
As previously indicated, Pereira has primarily fought strikers. His next championship defense could be against Dagestan's Magomed Ankalaev who will undoubtedly put Pereira's wrestling prowess to the test.
Exploring Alex Pereira's strength despite his lack of wrestling experience
Reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira's extraordinary strength and skill have played a significant role in his ascent to the top. He is one of the fiercest hitters, displaying his powerful calf kicks and trademark hooks.
After Pereira's fifth-round TKO win over Israel Adesanya, Instagram user fightingdoc analyzed his technique to see how he generates such powerful hits.
One interesting aspect was Pereira's preferred weapon, hooks. According to Fightdoc, Hooks are more likely to produce concussions due to the human brain's ability to tolerate linear compression but readily deform under rotating pressure.
Pereira's ability to shift weight and provide torque to his strikes is also crucial. The breakdown suggests that the fighter's rocking motion increases the weight of his strokes, resulting in greater force.
Check out the entire breakdown of Alex Pereira's striking technique here: