Alex Pereira has had a meteoric rise to the top of UFC’s middleweight mountain. However, like every great fighter, the Brazilian had to endure his fair share of struggles in the past. The 35-year-old’s coach recently revealed how ‘Poatan’ struggled to train due to his ongoing battle with alcoholism at the time.
Pereira won the UFC gold in just a handful of Octagon bouts before losing it to Israel Adesanya at UFC 287. He also had an illustrious career in the kickboxing realm before transitioning to MMA. However, he wasn’t always the power-punching machine that he is today. Alex’s coach and retired kickboxer, Belocqua Wera details how alcoholism damaged his early days as a kickboxer.
Speaking to MMAFighting, Coach Wera claimed that Pereira’s drinking problem left him “rotten inside” and unable to progress in the sport. “I was training with him in the ring one day, trying to teach him some difficult moves,” Wera said. “I was pushing him hard, so I punched him right in the stomach, and he went down and I thought to myself, ‘F**k, he’s weak. Am I wasting my time with him?'”
He continued, “He was back up seconds later, and I saw tears in his eyes. I realized he wasn’t weak, he was a warrior, He was rotten inside due to the things he used. he was contaminated. It wasn’t easy to turn him into what he’s become. He’s representing me. When he’s champion, I’m happy.”
Wera then explained to Alex that he had a special recipe that he’d learned from his indigenous ancestors. The potion would help heal the Brazilian from the ill effects of alcohol. But since ‘Poatan’ barely had any money, the coach helped him buy several Brazilian roots, honey, and other ingredients that’d go on to be used in making the detoxing juice.
Alex Pereira will fight at light heavyweight next
Alex Pereira vows to work his way back up to the UFC gold, this time however in the light heavyweight division. After losing to ‘Izzy‘ in their highly touted rematch, the Brazilian took to his YouTube channel to announce his next move. He has chosen to test himself at a heavier weight and potentially win the highly coveted strap.
In his native Portuguese, ‘Poatan‘ mentioned that his decision to move up isn’t due to his grueling weight cuts at middleweight. “Many people have questioned [my weight cut] but I always went there and fulfilled my obligation, but now is a great moment to move up a division,” said Alex. “You see Adesanya’s post-fight provocations, he treats this win like it’s 3-1 for him and it’s not quite like that.
UFC president Dana White has suggested that Pereira will need a big victory in the light heavyweight division first. The brass won’t rush Alex to a title shot akin to his middleweight run in the promotion. However, fans do find a bout against the current champion Jamahal Hill extremely compelling. Hill defeated Alex’s teammate and coach Glover Teixeira at UFC 283.
Whether Alex chooses to stay in the 205-pound division, fans will always welcome a third fight with Adesanya. Do you think they will ever face each other in the Octagon? Let us know in the comments down below.