Will Alex Pereira Replicate His GLORY Run by Successfully Clinching UFC Gold in Two Divisions?

Alex Pereira and his journey in the UFC has been nothing short of extraordinary. The former GLORY kickboxer made his debut in the promotion at UFC 268 against Andreas Michailidis. He demonstrated his incredible knockout power in the fight by finishing his opponent in the 2nd round. His striking acumen also led to him securing the UFC middleweight title against rival, Israel Adesanya, at UFC 281.

But he later lost the belt in a rematch against Adesanya at UFC 287, prompting him to set his sights on the light heavyweight division. At UFC 295 Pereira will face Jiri Prochazka for the vacant light heavyweight title. And if he manages to secure a victory, Pereira will be able to claim a rare achievement in combat sports! Let’s take a look at what’s at stake for ‘Poatan’ in this matchup.

UFC 295 will be a legacy-defining moment for Alex Pereira

Recently, Alex Pereira was inducted into the GLORY Hall of Fame as part of the promotion’s ‘Collision 6’ event. The honor was bestowed upon him for his incredible achievements in the promotion. Pereira held the middleweight and light heavyweight titles as a kickboxer for the organization.

He competed in GLORY from 2014 to 2021 and had a record of 8-1 in his championship fights. Pereira then left the promotion to join the UFC. His Hall of Fame group includes Joseph “Bazooka” Valtellini and former K-1 legend, Semmy Schilt.

UFC 295 is set to take place in Madison Square Garden in New York. A location where many combat sports legends have cemented their place in history. And if Pereira manages to defeat Prochazka, he will be the first fighter to hold titles in multiple weight classes in both Kickboxing and MMA! So far in the UFC’s 30-year history, only eight fighters have managed to achieve the incredible feat of holding titles in two weight classes.

Pereira has stated, “It means a lot to me to win another belt, it’s the culmination of the hard work I’ve put in, always giving it my all.”

While Pereira is looking to secure his legacy, his opponent Jiri Prochazka will not be an easy fight. Prochazka is a former UFC light-heavyweight champion. He secured his title by defeating Pereira’s mentor and friend, Glover Teixeira at UFC 275. Therefore, UFC 295 also offers ‘Poatan’ an opportunity to avenge his mentor’s loss and take the title back to Brazil. However, none of that is weighing on his mind per the recent revelations from the former champion.

Pereira will be entering UFC 295 with a different mindset

Alex Pereira has stated that he will not be coming into the fight with vengeance on his mind. In a recent interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, Pereira revealed his mindset and approach to this fight.

He stated, “I want to go with a very positive mindset. I’m going to fight with the mindset that they haven’t even fought before.”

Read More: Alex Pereira Nickname: ‘Poatan’ Meaning and Reason Behind the Ex-UFC Champ’s Moniker

Pereira revealed that he is grateful for the help Teixeira provides to his camp. His feedback from his prior encounter against Prochazka is expected to be instrumental in Pereira’s gameplan for this fight. The two men are known for their incredible striking skills and brutal finishing ability inside the cage. Therefore, fans can expect fireworks when these two titans put everything on the line at UFC 295!

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