Things are heating up as UFC 312 draws near! Dricus Du Plessis will defend his middleweight throne, against Sean Strickland in Sydney, Australia on February 9. The fight has already got a lot of hype because of their previous clash at UFC 297 where ‘Stillknocks’ ripped the belt away from ‘Tarzan’ via a split decision.

But there’s an unexpected twist, in the saga—Alex Pereira will be in Strickland’s corner. A past rival turned ally as the light heavyweight champ steps into the fight week narrative in an unconventional role. Although the South African champion has brushed off the addition of ‘Poatan’ as a non-factor, Pereira has now spoken out in his signature stoic style.

Alex Pereira fires back at Dricus Du Plessis with a thinly veiled jab 

A picture is worth a thousand words, but Alex Pereira needed only four to fire back at Dricus Du Plessis’s remarks. In a post shared on his Instagram story, ‘Poatan’ shared an image of him alongside his team, en route to Sydney.

No debates, no explanations—just action. That’s Pereira in a nutshell. A silent storm rolled into UFC 312, adding an air of unpredictability to Strickland’s corner.

But what does he bring to the table? Striking wisdom? Psychological warfare? A mere headline-grabbing presence? Pereira’s history with Strickland is well-documented. At UFC 276, he knocked the American out cold on his way to challenging Israel Adesanya for the 185 lbs crown.

Since then, they’ve become training partners, with Pereira offering his expertise in refining Strickland’s striking and was even present in ‘Tarzan’s corner for UFC 297. So, what did Du Plessis have to say about the two rivals joining forces that sparked the flames? In an interview with CBS Sports, the champion stated, “Strickland could barely understand his own coach who’s also American. How is he going to understand Alex Pereira?”

To him, it doesn’t matter who Strickland brings into battle. The fight is a test of skill, endurance, and strategy, not just who has the loudest corner voice. While all eyes are on UFC 312, Pereira has his own war to prepare for. On March 8, he faces the dangerous Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313.

A trip halfway across the world for Strickland’s fight, when he should be deep in his own training camp? It has certainly raised a lot of eyebrows as well. But according to Sean Strickland’s head coach, the decision to bring in Alex Pereira for the camp was a no-brainer!

‘Tarzan’s coach believes there’s no one better for corner duty during UFC 312 “battle” than ‘Poatan’

Not everyone welcomed the news that Alex Pereira would be in Sean Strickland’s corner at UFC 312. While some saw it as a tactical advantage, others dismissed it as a publicity stunt. Strickland’s head coach, Eric Nicksick, quickly set the record straight.

In a recent conversation with MMA Fighting, Nicksick shared, “I was hoping to have him in the corner. Myself and Danny Davis will be there, and it was just a matter of convenience, and these are two guys that really trust one another. Sean went out there to help him get ready for Khalil Rountree, and this is what people don’t really understand.”

Nicksick also shared that Pereira was already traveling to Australia, and when Johnny Eblen couldn’t make it, the choice was obvious. The Brazilian striker, known for his precision and power, would be the perfect sparring presence before the main event to help warm up ‘Tarzan’ for the fight.

What about the language barrier that Du Plessis jabbed at in his remarks? For Nicksick, that’s not even a concern. Why? According to him, “We speak MMA, right? There’s enough for him to be able to say to help be a resource for us. And look, if we’re going to battle, who better to have in your corner than Alex Pereira?”

One thing is certain—this fight is more than just a rematch. It’s a battle of wills, game plans, and unexpected alliances. With Pereira lurking in Strickland’s corner and a champion unwilling to be rattled, February 9 promises fireworks in Sydney. So, who leaves with the belt and who walks away with only lessons? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!