Glover Teixeira will probably be in Alex Pereira’s nook when “Poatan” defends his gentle heavyweight belt towards knockout artist Khalil Rountree within the UFC 307 most important occasion Saturday, and he likes Pereira’s probabilities in a possible transfer to heavyweight.
Pereira teased the concept prior to now, however not too long ago mentioned he can be extra prepared to chop again all the way down to 185 kilos to face champion Dricus du Plessis as an alternative. Teixeira, nevertheless, mentioned Pereira’s punching energy would translate simply high quality to UFC’s heaviest division.
“[Pereira’s] knockout energy is unbelievable,” Teixeira mentioned in an interview with MMA Preventing. “He’s doing nice on the bottom, and he’s a pure knockout artist. If he goes up, these guys gained’t beat him, man. They might have the identical probability the opposite ones have [at light heavyweight]. Khalil, Jon Jones or Stipe [Miocic]? Okay, I imagine Poatan catches them.”
Pereira claimed UFC middleweight gold in November 2022 and misplaced it in an instantaneous rematch with Israel Adesanya six months later, then left the division to kick off a 4-0 run at 205 kilos that already features a trio of knockouts and two title defenses.
Teixeira mentioned the workforce would concentrate on getting Pereira “stronger and heavier” for a possible transfer to Jon Jones’ weight class, however “I’ve skilled with many heavyweights, and [Pereira] is that robust.”
A former UFC gentle gentle heavyweight champion who has beforehand fought Jones prior to now, Teixeira mentioned he would decide to maneuver as much as heavyweight as an alternative of going again to middleweight if he have been in Pereira’s sneakers. Nonetheless, he helps whichever determination “Poatan” makes subsequent.
“Perhaps going up can be undoubtedly simpler. That may be my opinion, however it’s simply an opinion.” Teixeira mentioned. “We must see what the docs say, if he can transfer down wholesome, however I believe he would undoubtedly have to lose muscle. There’s no different method. He’s gained a number of muscle coaching wrestling. He used to make 185 in GLORY, however he was doing kickboxing solely, and he stored rising [with wrestling], and the lower received tougher. We’ve got to see what the professionals say. If he needs to go down, we’ll go down collectively. And we’ll win anyplace.”
Rountree stands throughout the cage from the champion on Saturday seeking to spoil any plans of Pereira holding a number of UFC belts concurrently, and Pereira’s workforce is taking him significantly. Poatan moved his complete camp to eight,500-feet above sea degree to arrange for Salt Lake Metropolis’s excessive altitude, and gained’t be stunned if Rountree adjustments his complete fashion to keep away from Pereira’s arms and kicks.
“It’s a combat,” Teixeira mentioned. “Even ‘Cro Cop’ [Mirko Filipovic] shot for takedowns. Perhaps he’s like, ‘It’s f*cking onerous right here, I’ll attempt to take him down.’ Everybody at this degree trains jiu-jitsu. That may not be his largest power, however he trains it. And he undoubtedly may shoot for a takedown. Poatan trains every little thing, at all times, however his threats are on the toes. He’s quick, and he’s explosive.”