“Keeps Making Bad Decisions” – Alex Pereira Fans Worry After Superstar Ropes in Former Rival for Magomed Ankalaev Rematch Training

Former UFC double division champion Alex Pereira puts a doubt in fans' minds after training with Sean Strickland for UFC 320 title fight.

“Keeps Making Bad Decisions” – Alex Pereira Fans Worry After Superstar Ropes in Former Rival for Magomed Ankalaev Rematch Training

Alex Pereira training with Sean Strickland ahead of UFC 320 (via Bloody Elbow, X)

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The UFC has seen some unlikely alliances over the years, but Alex Pereira’s recent decision to train with Sean Strickland has drawn significant attention. Ahead of his highly anticipated rematch against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320, Pereira has been sharpening his skills alongside Strickland. While the two have a good bond, fans believe that training with Strickland was not in Poatan’s best interests.

Pereira’s journey back to the championship spotlight comes after his unanimous decision loss to Ankalaev at UFC 313, a result that sparked debate among fans and analysts alike. The Brazilian is known for his devastating striking and knockout power. While Ankalaev has promised not to use his wrestling skills at UFC 320, Pereira has faced questions about his wrestling and grappling abilities.

Strickland has often made headlines for his controversial comments and ideologies. While he has had a decent run, the highlight of his career was winning the title against Israel Adesanya at UFC 293. However, since then, he has struggled to deliver. Pereira posted a video of himself training with Strickland, and the two could be seen testing each other while hitting the bag under the guidance of UFC legend Glover Teixeira.

What makes this partnership even more interesting is the relationship between ‘Poatan’ and ‘Tarzan’. The two once stood across from each other in the octagon back in 2022, when Pereira knocked Strickland out in the first round on his path to UFC middleweight gold. Despite that, the duo have developed a friendship over time, with Pereira joining Strickland’s corner in the past.

Since joining the UFC in 2021, Pereira has quickly built one of the most remarkable resumes in recent memory. The former kickboxing world champion made an immediate impact by showcasing his elite striking, which led to a TKO win against Adesanya in 2022 and earned him the 185-pound championship. However, his actual reign of terror started at light heavyweight when he knocked out Jiri Prochazka.

Pereira’s knockout over Prochazka earned him championship gold at UFC 295. He built up his resume with knockout wins against the likes of Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree Jr. However, the defeat against Ankalaev at UFC 313 handed him his first loss in the division. This has set up their high-stakes rematch at UFC 320, and fans will want to see ‘Poatan’ put on a better performance.

Fans react to Alex Pereira training with Sean Strickland

The training partnership between Alex Pereira and Sean Strickland has quickly become one of the most talked-about storylines heading into UFC 320. Once fierce rivals inside the Octagon, the two fighters have now forged a relationship built on respect and mutual benefit. However, fans are not reacting positively to the Brazilian superstar’s decision to bring in Strickland to train.

Alex Pereira training with Sean Strickland
Alex Pereira training with Sean Strickland (via MMA Fighting)

However, fans have not forgotten that the last time Strickland worked closely with Pereira during a camp, he went on to lose his middleweight title rematch in decisive fashion against Dricus Du Plessis. With that memory in mind, many were quick to weigh in on the effectiveness of this reunion.

Some even suggested that training with Strickland could be another “bad decision”. Here are some fan reactions to the training footage:

Ultimately, the reaction portrayed Pereira’s decision as a risky and potentially misguided move, rather than a strategic upgrade. Instead of inspiring confidence, the training footage fueled skepticism about whether Pereira was truly addressing the weaknesses exposed by Ankalaev. With UFC 320 drawing closer, fans remain doubtful that Strickland’s presence in camp will bring about a different result in the rematch.

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