Sean Strickland predicts Alex Pereira will make ‘easy work’ of his next UFC title fight as he tells Poatan to leave DDP to him

Former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has joined Alex Pereira’s team in Salt Lake City, Utah, helping the Brazilian superstar train for his upcoming world title fight; scheduled for next weekend against veteran Khalil Rountree Jr.

Now that he’s seen Poatan’s preparation firsthand, Sean Strickland believes the popular kickboxer will make “easy work” of his latest title challenger, although he also had some choice words for his new training partner regarding a possible return to middleweight.

(RL) Alex Pereira punches Sean Strickland in their middleweight bout at UFC 276 on July 2, 2022 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. — Photo by Alejandro Salazar/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Sean Strickland predicts Alex Pereira will make UFC 307 title fight ‘easy’

In preparation for the upcoming title fight at UFC 307, Sean Strickland has now joined Alex Pereira and his team in Salt Lake City. Speaking to The Schmo, he revealed what it was like training with his former opponent.

“(We’ve) had a lot of wars, the problem with Alex is he hits very hard, guys, very hard, but let me tell you why,” said the outspoken fighter. .

“When you grow up in the jungle of Brazil, where you have no running water, and as a baby you survive the Tapir and the wildebeest. And then you go to work in a tire shop, that’s a tough guy to fight… It’s tough, brother and my dad’s problems don’t compensate for that level of toughness, so it was good work.

Since losing his middleweight title to Israel Adesanya, Pereira has been on an absolute tear in the light heavyweight division; he has racked up four impressive victories in a row, including three straight knockouts in his last three fights.

Khalil Rountree himself has scored four knockouts in his last five wins, although we haven’t seen ‘The War Horse’ climb the UFC hill since Anthony Smith’s third-round finish in December 2023.

“I just don’t see Khalil getting it done,” Strickland told Helen Yee a few minutes later, teasing, “I remember seeing him fight Anthony Smith and I just don’t see it happening (against Alex).

“I don’t think he has the tools in the toolbox to beat Alex, he doesn’t knock him out, he doesn’t outmatch him, he doesn’t wrestle him – I think Alex will make this fight easy. ”

Sean Strickland tells Alex Pereira to stay at 205 pounds and away from DDP

Despite Strickland currently helping Alex Pereira prepare for his next light heavyweight fight, there is a chance the two end up in the same division again; with Poatan having previously teased a move back down to middleweight in the hope of defeating champion Dricus Du Plessis.

Unsurprisingly, Strickland isn’t a fan of the idea of his new sparring partner dropping down to 185 pounds, especially since he himself is expected to match DDP again sometime in the next six months.

“Alex, I know you worked in a tire shop, but listen, you’re not a poor Brazilian anymore, you have more money than all of us, so how about you sit the fuck down, let me fight the Dutchman and then Let’s go. I’ll send him your way.’

“Here’s the thing Dutchman, the world knows I won, you know I won,” said Strickland, addressing the South African directly: “God gave you a gift along those lines and I still won, I would walk through you for five laps and you fucking know this.

“I understand you want to avoid me a little bit and that’s fair, UFC, Hunter, Dana; they all said it was me, my man, so give me the date… Let’s go to Vegas, let’s have a war. Come to America, let’s do the man’s dance and give me my belt back, you Dutchman.

Earlier today, Du Plessis took the opportunity to troll middleweight contender Brendan Allen for his decision loss at UFC Paris.