There aren’t many fighters in the history of MMA who have achieved the kind of success Alex Pereira has.
A victory over Khalil Rountree this weekend at UFC 307 would allow Pereira to break the record for the fewest days needed to defend a UFC title three times.
What makes this even more remarkable is that heading into this fight, his overall MMA record stands at just 11-2.
When Pereira entered the UFC after a legendary kickboxing career, it was clear he would be a dangerous matchup for anyone in striking exchanges. However, questions arose about how quickly he could round out his overall game with limited time in the sport.
“Poatan,” as he’s known, believes that he’s developing even faster than his competition because he still has so much to learn.
Daniel Cormier Says Alex Pereira Believes He’s Catching Up Quickly
On the final episode of ESPN MMA’s Good Guy / Bad Guy before UFC 307, Daniel Cormier shared insights from his conversations with Pereira during fight week.
“DC” explained that while Pereira was still essentially an amateur when he arrived in the UFC, Pereira feels like he’s covering a lot of ground between fights.
Cormier described how Pereira is able to improve more than most elite fighters during his training camps, despite already being the top 205-pound fighter in the world.
“We keep saying he’s an amateur, he recognizes that but also says, ‘If I’m the best in the world now, imagine what I can be.’ Isn’t that a crazy thought? He was an amateur and became the world champ. Our improvements are usually incremental—like footwork adjustments—but he’s getting better in wrestling, cardio, and the clinch. He’s literally improving leaps and bounds every time, and he’s already the world champion.”
Read also: UFC 307: Alex Pereira vs. Khalil Rountree Weigh-In Live Stream & Results
