Alex Pereira certainly knows how to stop foes in the Octagon, and has been branded as likely one of the best to do so by an iconic boxing trainer.
Making his return to action in October, Pereira will headline UFC 320 in a rematch with Magomed Ankalaev, in a bid to reclaim the light heavyweight crown.
Having knocked out all but two of his light heavyweight foes during his Octagon run, Alex Pereira’s staggering power has carried over to 205lbs with ease.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
But as far as the veteran trainer is concerned, Pereira’s technique and ability to throw one of his hammer blows is unmatched when it comes to his Octagon peers.
Teddy Atlas heaps praise on Alex Pereira’s boxing ability
And failing to land a knockout blow against Ankalaev in their showdown at UFC 313, Pereira’s unbeaten run at the light heavyweight limit in the Octagon came to an end.
But on show against the likes of Jiri Prochazka, Jamahal Hill, and Khalil Rountree, the Brazilian can close the show at a moment’s notice.
So much so, his technique has been branded in the highest regard by former boxer-turned-trainer Teddy Atlas.
“I think that (Alex) Pereira has the best left hook [in the UFC],” Atlas told MMA Knockout. “He has a good left hook, whether it’s a counter left hook or a lead left hook.
“It is short, it is powerful, it is accurate, it is beautiful,” Atlas continued. “Pereira’s got as good a left hook as you can ever see.”
Hoping to enter his re-run with Ankalaev both injury and illness-free at UFC 320, Pereira has been warned that may not even be enough to topple the dominant Russian star.
Chael Sonnen unsure Alex Pereira can beat Magomed Ankalaev
Reacting to the recent booking of Pereira’s return against Ankalaev later this year, the veteran Chael Sonnen weighed in quite heavily on the Brazilian’s star chances of success.
Preferring to see the former two-weight champion fight Tom Aspinall soon, Sonnen claimed Pereira may never overcome the stylistic matchup of Ankalaev in his career.
“Alex is not gonna beat Ankalaev. This is a statement of fact,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel.
“They have already fought. There was nothing within that contest that would lead you to believe that if we did it again, we are gonna change the outcomes.”
With a victory over Ankalaev, Pereira would begin his light heavyweight title reign for a second time, having previously held the promotion’s middleweight belt for a short period of time.