Former opponent and training partner Sean Strickland has offered his candid opinion on Alex Pereira’s prospects in the heavyweight division. Speaking at the UFC 328 pre-fight press conference ahead of his middleweight title challenge against Khamzat Chimaev, Strickland weighed in on the possibility of Pereira’s success at heavyweight.
“Poatan Is Not a Heavyweight: Sean Strickland Makes Bold Alex Pereira Claim,” Strickland stated, pausing before selecting Pereira as the tougher sparring partner when compared to Francis Ngannou. He elaborated, “Heavyweights are fucking heavyweights. Alex is not a heavyweight. Alex is a 205er with a heavyweight build that can be heavyweight and that’s why you’re going to see him succeed so much because you’re fighting lower competition, you’re faster, hit harder… But Francis is big and black, bro. I don’t know. If I had to pick who I want to fight, I don’t know… They both suck.”
Strickland and Pereira have a shared history, having faced off at UFC 276 in 2022, with Pereira securing a first-round TKO victory while both competed in the middleweight division. Following their fight, they trained together, with Pereira acknowledging Strickland as a warrior who contributed to his development. Pereira has since achieved championship status in two divisions, capturing the middleweight title and then reigning as light heavyweight champion with impressive knockouts.
Now, Pereira is setting his sights on heavyweight history. He relinquished his light heavyweight belt to challenge Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title at UFC Freedom 250, an event held at the White House South Lawn to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary. A victory in this bout would position Pereira for a showdown with Tom Aspinall for the undisputed heavyweight championship, pending Aspinall’s recovery from an eye injury.
Strickland’s direct comments align with the heightened trash talk surrounding the upcoming fight week. He and his opponent, Chimaev, have exchanged barbs both online and in the media. Strickland even made threats involving a firearm, to which Chimaev responded by claiming to have submitted Strickland in training.
Khamzat Chimaev boasts an undefeated 15-0 record with notable finishes against top contenders in both middleweight and welterweight divisions. Sean Strickland, a former champion, holds a record of 30-7 and is known for his formidable striking and resilience. The anticipation for their fight is high, with the potential for personal animosity to escalate quickly. Strickland’s analysis of Pereira’s heavyweight potential adds another layer of intrigue to the highly anticipated UFC White House event.