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Glover Teixeira is confident in Alex Pereira's chances in the UFC heavyweight division. Pereira is a former kickboxer who has held UFC titles in two weight classes. While he is the current light heavyweight champion, talks of his potential move up to heavyweight have picked up steam in recent months.
Many believe that Pereira may not have the power parity to compete against heavyweight fighters. Speaking to The Schmo ahead of UFC 307, the Brazilian's teammate and coach Glover Teixeira said:
"I am confident that [Alex Pereira] can do whatever he wants. He can fight at heavyweight and destroy the heavyweights there. Because the strength, the ability to read the opponents, getting in and out... And power... He is more powerful than any heavyweight that I have ever trained with... Any heavyweight - Tom Aspinall, Stipe Miocic - got KO power as well but Alex is way up there."
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Check out Glover Teixeira's comments below (4:48):
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Glover Teixeira says Alex Pereira is now competitive in all aspects of martial arts
Alex Pereira's kickboxing background has led many to believe he might be outmatched against fighters with a grappling-heavy style.
Speaking further in the aforementioned interview with The Schmo, former light heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira said that 'Poatan' has been training in different aspects of martial arts and not confining himself to the kickboxing skillset.
When asked if the team is expecting Pereira's next opponent, Khalil Rountree Jr., to shoot for takedowns, Teixeira replied:
"We expect everything. We've just got to train and do our job. Our job is to prepare for everything. What are we going to do? If Khalil shoots and Alex takes him down, what are we going to do? Can we say, 'Oh, you said you were not going shoot takedowns so we didn't expect it?' So we've got to train for everything."
He added:
"We've got to be ready. Alex is a mixed martial artist now. He doesn't think about just kickboxing. Of course, that's his strength but we're working in all aspects - Takedowns, jiu-jitsu, getting off the back... We're training for MMA." [3:16]
Pereira will attempt the third defense of his light heavyweight title against Rountree Jr. in the headlining bout of UFC 307. The event is scheduled to take place at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Oct. 5.
