The UFC middleweight champion, Alex Pereira rose to title contention insanely quickly. His meteoric rise can be attributed to his elite skills as a kickboxer. However, MMA is much more than just kickboxing. And Alex’s coach, Glover Teixeira is the one who deserves all the credit in the world for helping Poatan learn the ropes in MMA and helping him round out his skillset.
Although, in a video recently uploaded to Poatan’s YouTube channel, Glover revealed why this mentor-protege relationship is so successful. The video showed an irate Glover scolding his students for not being eager to learn from him and the other coaches. Glover blasted his other students for not having the right attitude to become successful fighters like himself and Poatan.
He used Alex’s example as someone who is always willing to learn. Glover said, “Sometimes he asks me about striking. And I’m saying, ‘F**k man, this guy is asking me about striking.’ He’s always asking man, he’s the only one who asked me questions. It seems that the rest here doesn’t want to be here.” Teixeira continued, “Don’t come, don’t f***ing come if you gonna come with that f***ing attitude… I’m telling you this, I will be fine without you, I’ll be okay.”
Glover also said that training is always on Poatan’s mind, and he even calls up Glover to discuss forthcoming training sessions. Such grit and dedication are the very tools that made both Glover and Alex UFC champions. And it seems Teixeira will not rest until future generations of fighters show the same tenacity.
Alex Pereira owes his UFC middleweight title win to Glover Teixeira
Despite Glover’s harsh words to his students, the above video only went to show how much he cares about their development. And nowhere was this passion and worry more evident than UFC 281. At the main event, Alex Pereira was losing to Israel Adesanya on the judges’ scorecards. However, it was Glover Teixeira and his corner’s candor that enabled Poatan to get the KO victory.
Alex recounted what Teixeira said to him heading into the fifth and final round. Poatan said, “I tried to pace myself. But going into the last round, my corners and Glover kept it real with me. They looked in my eyes, and I said, ‘Do I have to knock him out?’ And Glover said, ‘You do have to knock him out.’ Then I said, ‘OK, let’s do it’.”
And the rest, as they say, is history. Alex Pereira became the UFC middleweight champion just 8 fights into his MMA career. And no one can dispute the fact that he owes this title victory to Glover Teixeira’s tutelage and guidance. And even though his mentor retired, Alex has the opportunity to avenge him against Jamahal Hill. But only if he gets through The Last Stylebender at UFC 281.
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