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Ihor Poteira faces an uphill task in his UFC 301 clash against Michel Pereira this weekend. Not only is Pereira fighting on home soil at the Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro, but facing one of the most exciting stars of the promotion.

With his dynamic acrobatic style of fighting and unconventional techniques, Pereira is expected to be a challenging opponent for the Ukrainian. However, Poteira, who holds fourteen first-round finishes in his career thus far, is not one to waste time in the octagon. Here’s all about his gym and coaches.

Where does Ihor Potieria train?

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Ihor Potieria does not waste time in the octagon. ‘Duelist’ gets straight to work from the first bell, and generally looks to finish his opponents as soon as possible. Which he has managed to do throughout his pro-MMA career. And while Potieria’s UFC stint has gotten off to a rocky start with two losses in his two bouts in the Las Vegas-based promotion, two-thirds of his wins have been first-round knockouts or finishes. This makes him an excellent opponent for Michel Pereira.

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Potieria, who relies on his stand-up, sharpens his skills at the Legat gym in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv under head Coach Yarik Fedorovich, and wrestling coach Sanya Dobryy, who has been with him since he became a pro in 2015. In fact, ‘Duelist’ took to Instagram recently to commend his team for their support. “You guys know everything … I’m glad that I have good people in my life, friends like you. I looked at all of you and saw how worried you were about me even though you tried to hide it. As they say, further more and better,” he wrote. And he will need all the support of his team if he is to have a shot at beating Michel Pereira.

Potieria can turn things around if he can defeat ‘Demolidor’

On paper, Ihor Potieria vs. Michel Pereira is a wash. Both have identical strikes per minute and accuracy, but the Brazilian does have a better defense and absorbs almost 40% fewer strikes than the Ukrainian.

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However, despite their similar stats, many are expecting fireworks in their bout with Pereira’s signature acrobatic, dynamic style going against the Ukrainian’s slick, no-nonsense striking. But, given his UFC record, and Pereira’s seven-fight win streak, Potieria is a huge betting underdog going into the bout.

This sets the stage for a perfect storm for Potieria to potentially upset the Brazilian and instantly make a name for himself. If he can manage it, that is. Plus, given his proclivity for first-round finishes, the 28-year-old may manage to catch Pereira, who does have a solid defense, early. What are your predictions for UFC 301?