Michael Bisping has no difficulty with Alex Pereira cornering Sean Strickland at UFC 312.
This Saturday, Strickland challenges Dricus du Plessis for the middleweight title in the principle occasion of UFC 312, and when he does, present mild heavyweight champion Alex Pereira will probably be in his nook.
Again in 2022, Pereira knocked out Strickland in a middleweight title eliminator, however the two have since turn out to be pals and occasional coaching companions, which led to Pereira becoming a member of Strickland in Sydney this weekend. It’s a choice that some folks, like UFC Corridor of Famer Daniel Cormier, criticized provided that “Poatan” defends his mild heavyweight title in opposition to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 subsequent month in Las Vegas, and Bisping understands why.
“DC thinks it’s a foul thought. I’ve acquired a principle on why he’s doing it,” Bisping stated on his YouTube channel. “The truth is, for Alex Pereira, flying to the opposite facet of the world a number of weeks earlier than his title battle in opposition to Magomed Ankalaev, that lots of people suppose is the hardest matchup for him at 205, and I’ll in all probability agree with that, as properly. They suppose it’s a foul thought.
“Daniel Cormier stated when you go on the market, you go to Australia, you bought to take care of jet lag, completely different meals, the coaching routine received’t be the identical, and all the remainder of it. They’re all legitimate factors. And by the best way, the entire time Pereira is doing that, Magomed Ankalaev is working his god rattling ass off, as a result of Pereira, if he beats him, he turns into a legend himself. And each single time he’s standing there with Sean Strickland and doing all that kind of stuff, Pereira just isn’t advancing his recreation, he’s not defending takedowns and all the remainder of it. So what’s going on?”
That being stated, Bisping has a reasonably easy clarification for why Pereira would possibly undertake such a danger earlier than a title battle of his personal: it’s a win-win state of affairs.
“Sean Strickland has skilled with Magomed Ankalaev, so there’s undoubtedly some synergy there, and there’s some ways in which Sean Strickland will help Pereira,” Bisping stated. “Inform him what he does within the fitness center and all that kind of stuff. …
“The explanation Alex Pereira goes to Australia is as a result of he’s going to receives a commission a shit-ton of cash! There will probably be appearances galore. He’s the largest star in all the sport. He can do a signing, he can do appearances, he can do a seminar. He can simply present up at a bar and have a number of beers and he’ll receives a commission.
“He’ll go off to Australia and he’ll make like $100,000-$150,000. After which on prime of that, while he’s there, he will get to be a very good teammate, he will get within the good graces of all people. Everyone thinks, ‘Wow, what a man! This man is unimaginable! He’s so sacrificial! He places others earlier than himself.’ So it’s a pleasant PR transfer. And I don’t know this, however he’s in all probability going to receives a commission a ton of cash.”
Bisping later added that he wasn’t sure this was behind Pereira’s choice however stated he “would guess some huge cash” that Pereira was making a substantial sum this weekend.
And even when that’s not the case, Bisping nonetheless thinks there’s little or no draw back. Together with his title battle over a month away, Pereira can have his cake and eat it too.
“I don’t suppose it’s going to have an effect on his battle in opposition to Magomed Ankalaev,” Bisping stated. “That’s about 5, six weeks away, one thing like that. So it doesn’t actually matter. It’s not ultimate, it’s not optimum, however you do must profit from these alternatives. He isn’t going to be the champ endlessly. …
“You wish to unfold your fanbase. You wish to go on the market and join with folks. That’s the way you develop as a star. You’ve acquired to maximise on this chance.”
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UFC 312 Media Day
Dricus du Plessis interview.
Zhang Weili interview.
Tatiana Suarez interview.
Chris Weidman interview.
UFC 312 Embedded, episode 2.
Sydney Sweeney boxing in BTS footage of her Christy Martin film.
Fighter vs. The Author
Loopy certainly. Dude was within the Prime 10!
That’s loopy they minimize Jairzinho! 2 losses on the final 5 fights! I believe UFC is attempting to ship a message to heavyweights!
— Renato Moicano (@moicanoufc) February 4, 2025
Desperately attempting to make fetch occur.
LOL.
Julian Lane gave extra to this sport than 99 % of fighters. We’ll be saying “let me bang” for so long as the game exists.
Actually, it’s an amazing query.
Watching my mother work together with a web troll on tiktok was hilarious. She actually could not fathom the idea. “Why would somebody wish to do this”
— Sodiq Yusuff (@Super_Sodiq) February 5, 2025
KSI vs. Dillon Danis; Misfits Boxing 21, March 29.
If Alex Pereira loses to Magomed Ankalaev, this would be the silliest story. I’m right here for it.
Ballot
Will Alex Pereira cornering Sean Strickland have an effect on his battle with Magomed Ankalaev?
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