Oct 5, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Alex Pereira (red gloves) before a light heavyweight title bout against Khalil Rountree Jr. (not pictured) during UFC 307 at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

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UFC News: Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereira Trains With a ‘Fighting Nerd,’ Potential Middleweight Title Challenger

Alex Pereira teams up with a rising middleweight star and is sharpening skills for a potential title clash ahead!

Alex Pereira’s journey from kickboxing to becoming one of UFC‘s brightest stars is nothing short of amazing. Back in 2021, when he first stepped into the UFC octagon, many doubted if a pure kickboxer could hang with well-rounded MMA fighters. But Pereira didn’t just prove them wrong. He knocked their doubts right out of the park!

Inked and official! 🖋️

Former GLORY Champion Alex Pereira has signed his UFC contract today. He takes on Andreas Michailidis on November, 6th at UFC 268. pic.twitter.com/ZS5GyAnyu7
— Beyond Kickboxing (@Beyond_Kick) September 8, 2021

After claiming both the middleweight and light heavyweight titles, this Brazilian powerhouse has become one of the most feared strikers in the game. His 2024 was particularly spectacular, as he defended his light heavyweight crown three times, finishing each challenger with his trademark devastating strikes.

Now, here’s where things get interesting. Pereira recently shared a clip of sparring with a rising middleweight contender. And the video is spreading fast on the MMA internet.

Also Read: How Poatan Has Avenged Glover Teixeira’s Losses Inside the Octagon

Alex Pereira’s Sparring With ‘Fighting Nerds’ Member

A rising star from the “Fighting Nerds” squad, Caio Borralho recently sparred with ‘Poatan.’ This undefeated UFC middleweight has been quietly climbing the rankings, currently sitting at #6. After joining the UFC through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2022, Borralho has been on a tear, with nine victories in the UFC.

His recent victories over Paul Craig and Jared Cannonier have really turned heads in the division. What makes his sparring session with Alex Pereira particularly intriguing is the timing. Neither fighter currently has a bout scheduled for 2025, but both are at crucial points in their careers. Pereira, the champion looking to maintain his dominance, and Borralho, the hungry contender eyeing a shot at middleweight gold, are sharing valuable knowledge in the gym.

Alex Pereira sparring with Caio Borralho 👀🔥

🎥 @AlexPereiraUFC #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/2IpXbuSJQn
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) January 7, 2025

The sparring footage they shared at Fighting Nerds gym gives fans a glimpse into what happens when elite strikers collide in training. While Alex Pereira has moved up to light heavyweight, his experience at middleweight makes him an ideal training partner for Borralho.

While many fighters keep their training partners under wraps, Alex Pereira and Caio Borralho’s openness about working together speaks volumes about their confidence. Whether this training session hints at future collaborations or is just a one-off meeting of minds, it’s certainly caught the attention of the MMA world!

(Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – Imagn Images)

Alex Pereira

Caio Borralho

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!