Alex Pereira has accomplished a feat that borders on the impossible—but for someone like ‘Poatan,’ the impossible is just another challenge. The reigning 205lbs king has solidified his legacy as one of the greatest fighters in the world’s premier combat sports promotion. Fighters like Jiri Prochazka have jokingly attributed Pereira’s success to some sort of “voodoo” power, but there’s something far more tangible behind his dominance.

‘Poatan’ has developed a reputation for his devastating left-hand strike—a weapon so powerful it can send opponents into another dimension. However, even the most invincible fighter has weaknesses, and one UFC Hall of Famer believes Pereira’s vulnerabilities can be exploited by his opponents.

Chuck Liddell reveals Alex Pereira’s weakness that can help his opponents

UFC light heavyweight phenom and Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell didn’t hold back when discussing a potential weakness in Alex Pereira’s otherwise formidable arsenal. During a recent appearance on The JAXXON Podcast, ‘The Iceman’ weighed in on Pereira’s skillset while discussing Jiri Prochazka vs. Jamahal Hill—two fighters who both suffered losses to the Brazilian star. The conversation naturally shifted to what could be Pereira’s Achilles’ heel.

Liddell shared his perspective, saying, “I think anybody fighting him at this point has to try and take him down. That guy hits so hard and is so dangerous. To me, you have to get him uncomfortable on his feet, because you can’t let him relax there—it’s too dangerous. If you let Pereira get comfortable on his feet, I mean, he hits so hard. He’s a surgeon, you know.”

Pereira’s rapid ascent in the sport can be credited to his devastating striking ability, but he’s far more than just a knockout artist—’Poatan’ boasts one of the highest fight IQs in the game. With his standard Orthodox Kickboxing stance, he’s remarkably light on his feet, using bouncy footwork to stay agile and fluid in the stand-up.

However, the secret to exploiting his potential weakness was revealed by someone who knows him well—his opponent from two Glory Kickboxing bouts. Let’s see who it is!

Artem Vakhitov weighs in on Pereira and his weakness

Artem Vakhitov, the former Glory light heavyweight champion, has faced Alex Pereira twice, first at Glory 77 in January 2021 and then in a rematch at Glory 78. The duo took home one win each with the first fight ending in a split decision (won by Pereira) and the second in a majority decision (won by Vakhitov).

Vakhitov pointed out a significant weakness in Pereira’s game during a previous interview with MMA Fighting. While acknowledging Pereira’s incredible offensive skills, the Russian fighter highlighted the lack of defense as the Brazilian’s biggest vulnerability. According to Vakhitov, Pereira’s aggressive, attack-first style leaves him open to taking shots, particularly from skilled strikers who can exploit these openings.

“[Alex’s] biggest weakness is that he is all attack, he has no defense. Because of his lack of defense, he is open to taking a lot of punches to the head if he’s facing a skilled striker. You saw that in his second fight with Adesanya. He got caught because he leaves a lot of openings for people who know what they are doing,” Vakhitov said. He went on to suggest that fighters like Sean Strickland, Jiri Prochazka, and Jamahal Hill couldn’t capitalize on Pereira’s defensive shortcomings because their striking didn’t match up to his level.

With Pereira’s recent win over Khalil Rountree Jr. and his decision to reject a fight with Magomed Ankalaev, the question remains: will the Brazilian champion work on improving his defense? What do you think—will Pereira make defensive improvements, or will he continue to rely on his relentless offense? Let us know your thoughts below.