“I think Alex (Pereira) is an angry motherf—-r. Like, Alex is angry, and for some reason, dude, he hates Dricus (du Plessis). Like, I don’t know what you did to him, but he f—-g hates you, dude. So it’s like the way he looks at Dricus sometimes,” said UFC 185-pound title challenger Sean Strickland this week during the 312 media day. The American’s blunt remarks have only intensified the buildup to his middleweight title clash against Du Plessis, set to take place this weekend at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.

However, while hyping up his own fight, Strickland also brought his close friend and reigning light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira, into the mix. Now, fans wonder—does ‘Poatan’ truly harbor resentment toward Dricus Du Plessis? The two fighters crossed paths last year, but the American’s statement has reignited speculation about a potential rivalry.

Former UFC fighter-turned-analyst Chael Sonnen recently weighed in on the situation, offering insight into why Alex Pereira might hold a grudge against the South African. In his latest YouTube video, ‘The Bad Guy’ recalled an incident from last year when the Brazilian announced his intention to drop back down to middleweight for one final fight. However, ‘Stillknocks’ quickly dismissed the idea and responded, “You don’t have to cut the weight… I’ll come up to 205.” According to Sonnen, this response may have struck a nerve with The Brazilian.

He elaborated, “What is it that Dricus did to upset Alex to such a degree? I would really like to know. And now, I do. I do remember a few things. Once this was stated, I had a couple of flashbacks. You guys will remember when Alex (Pereira) offered to go down to 185, and Dricus said, ‘Yeah, don’t do it. I’ll come up to 205… we’re doing it for your belt.’ Do you guys remember this? It almost seemed like just words from Alex at that time. It didn’t seem very realistic that he would actually go down to 185 after all the work he put in to get to 205. Right? Alex has moved up 21 lbs—it didn’t seem like he would take it back down. But he was very serious.”

Despite Pereira’s firm intentions, one thing is clear—he stepped away from the middleweight division, leaving the opportunity for his sparring partner, Sean Strickland. Now, as ‘Tarzan’ sets his sights on reclaiming the 185-pound title, Pereira will also be in the American’s corner for the showdown against Du Plessis. But with his own fight just a month away, is this the right move?

UFC legends reacted to Alex Pereira cornering Sean Strickland at UFC 312

Alex Pereira has cemented himself as one of the most dangerous yet charismatic figures in the UFC. A former kickboxing champion, he isn’t just focused on individual success—he believes in the power of a strong team. Guided by the principle, “You become stronger by lifting others up,” The Brazilian has become a fan favorite, known not only for his ferocity in the cage but also for his playful banter with former rival-turned-training partner Sean Strickland.

Their dynamic wasn’t always friendly. The two first met inside the octagon at UFC 276, where ‘Poatan’ stunned ‘Tarzan’ with a first-round knockout. Nearly three years later, their relationship has taken a surprising turn. Pereira is now set to be in Strickland’s corner at UFC 312, offering guidance and support in one of the biggest fights of his career.

However, this decision has raised eyebrows, considering Pereira has his own high-stakes battle on the horizon. Just a month after UFC 312, he will put his light heavyweight title on the line against Dagestani powerhouse Magomed Ankalaev, arguably the toughest test of his reign. With such a crucial fight ahead, some believe the Brazilian should be focusing solely on his preparation.

UFC veteran Daniel Cormier has called Pereira’s decision to corner Sean Strickland “risky,” while Michael Bisping voiced similar concerns on his YouTube channel, “Every single time he’s standing there with Sean Strickland and doing all that type of stuff, Pereira is not advancing his game, he’s not defending takedowns and all the rest of it. So what is going on?”

What do you make of Chael Sonnen’s claims? Could this be the real reason behind Alex Pereira’s animosity toward Dricus du Plessis, or is Sean Strickland just stirring the pot? Share your thoughts below!