Video of a sparring between former UFC middleweight champion Alex Pereira and Sean Strickland has been released on social media.
Alex Pereira will return to the octagon in the co-main event of UFC 291. The Brazilian will face Jan Blachowicz in his debut in the light-heavyweight division. In order to prepare for his fight, ‘Poatan’ is training with his former opponent, current middleweight No. 7 Sean Strickland. The two men had faced off at UFC 276, and Pereira had slammed a massive 1st round knockout over ‘Tarzan’. During the sparring, Strickland seemed more cautious than usual… and we understand that.
In just three fights (including three wins) at the UFC, Alex Pereira earned a title shot against his old rival Israel Adesanya. Thus, during the main event of UFC 281, ‘Poatan’ became middleweight champion by inflicting a violent TKO on the New Zealander. However, at UFC 287, Izzy got his revenge, beating the Brazilian by knockout in the second round.
Now that Alex Pereira is moving up to the light-heavyweight, it seems that an MMA trilogy between the two men is not an option. However, Adesanya said he would be interested in a new fight with ‘Poatan’…on one condition. The New Zealander has competed at light heavyweight once during his UFC career. It was against Jan Blachowicz, the future opponent of Alex Pereira. In the future, it is not impossible that the two men meet for one last dance.
