Sean Strickland Explains Why Sparring Alex Pereira is Terrifying: “He Lets You Hit Him”

UFC 328 title challenger Sean Strickland jokingly highlights how sparring Alex Pereira gave him PTSD.

Sean Strickland Explains Why Sparring Alex Pereira is Terrifying: “He Lets You Hit Him”

Sean Strickland reveals why he is scared to spar Alex Pereira (via talkSPORT)

In Short
  • Sean Strickland describes sparring with Alex Pereira as terrifying due to Pereira's ability to let opponents hit him before retaliating harder.
  • Strickland is preparing to challenge Khamzat Chimaev for the middleweight title at UFC 328, marking a significant moment in his career.
  • Pereira aims to become a champion in a third division, facing Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title at UFC Freedom 250.

Sean Strickland is regarded as one of the most unpredictable sparring partners in MMA, known for his unorthodox striking style and refusal to hold back in training. However, training with Alex Pereira is no easy task either, given the Brazilian’s elite striking pedigree and knockout power. After working together ahead of their title fights, Strickland explained why sparring ‘Poatan’ is a daunting experience.

Strickland is now preparing to challenge middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328. The matchup marks a crucial moment in his career as he looks to reclaim the title against a familiar opponent. Meanwhile, Pereira is targeting a historic milestone, aiming to become a champion in a third division. The Brazilian is set to face Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title at UFC Freedom 250.

The two were recently seen together at the UFC Performance Institute during an appearance on Nina Marie Daniele’s YouTube channel. Pereira was already sparring inside while Strickland remained outside speaking with Nina and observing the session. During the interaction, Strickland admitted he had developed a slight sense of PTSD from sparring with Pereira and went on to explain the reason behind it.

We’re sparring, and he got me to drop my hand, and at that moment, I just said, ‘Nah, dude, we’re done. I’m done, you’re done… Sometimes he’ll let you hit him so he can hit you harder.

Sean Strickland via Nina Drama YT Channel

The connection between Strickland and Pereira dates back to their clash at UFC 276, where ‘Poatan’ delivered a knockout victory over the controversial middleweight star. Since then, both fighters have transitioned into an unusual training partnership while preparing for major bouts. Pereira even joined Strickland’s corner during his title fight at UFC 312, reflecting the evolving dynamic between the two.

Pereira is known for his demanding training and intense sparring sessions, where he constantly pushes both himself and his partners to the limit. His striking power has been evident even in practice, including sessions with 6’7 heavyweight Robelis Despaigne. Pereira’s striking has proven so dangerous that he once knocked out a training partner despite landing what appeared to be a relatively light shot.

As Alex Pereira prepares to move up to heavyweight, he already appears noticeably bigger in frame, reflecting a clear physical transition into the division. The Brazilian superstar’s power also seems to be seamlessly translating into his heavyweight build. With his continued evolution, attention now turns to whether ‘Poatan’ will be present in Sean Strickland’s corner for the upcoming title shot at UFC 328.

MMA analyst talks about security concerns surrounding Khamzat Chimaev vs Sean Strickland

Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev were once seen as training partners who held each other in high regard, sharing mutual respect during their earlier interactions in the MMA world. However, their relationship has since deteriorated after Strickland publicly criticized Chimaev’s ties to Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov and also raised accusations involving crypto-related scams.

Sean Strickland's mic gets cut
Sean Strickland’s mic gets cut (via MMA Fighting)

This situation has significantly raised the stakes around their matchup at UFC 328, further increasing the bad blood between Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev. UFC CEO Dana White has addressed the tension, noting that security measures around the event will be increased. Veteran analyst Din Thomas has also suggested Strickland should keep his trash talk limited, given Chimaev’s unpredictable nature

Sean’s going to say some crazy, wild stuff, and then he’s going to leave it at that, and then he’s going to wait for the fight. But you don’t know what Chimaev and his people might do if they’re truly offended. You can’t trust what he’s going to do. He might have some goons with him. If I’m Sean, I’m going to put on a show, but I’m also not going to let it get too far.

Din Thomas via Mike Bohn

Sean Strickland’s reputation for outspoken and often provocative trash talk has once again come under scrutiny, with Thomas pointing out that his comments can cross into personal territory. His tendency to escalate verbal exchanges has repeatedly drawn attention during UFC buildup moments, including instances in which his microphone was cut during UFC Houston after remarks were deemed too far.

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