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The Brazilian fine-tunes his grappling with the help of the former UFC champion to face Sergei Pavlovich
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Alex Pereira, double UFC champion, bets on Olympic wrestling alongside Cain Velasquez to fix a major weakness ahead of his return against Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335 on December 12. A breakdown of a strategic preparation.
To remember:
- Alex Pereira, 39, trains with Cain Velasquez to improve his grappling ahead of UFC 335.
- This collaboration aims to address a gap exposed against Ciryl Gane in June 2024.
- The fight against Sergei Pavlovich is scheduled for December 12.
At 39 years old, Alex Pereira remains a feared name in the octagon, despite a recent loss to Ciryl Gane in June 2024. The Brazilian, a double UFC champion in middleweight and light heavyweight, has chosen an unconventional preparation for his next challenge: training with Cain Velasquez, an Olympic wrestling legend and double UFC heavyweight champion. The goal? To strengthen his ground game, an area where he showed weaknesses in his last fight.
This technical collaboration is part of a drive for improvement. Velasquez, a Pan American Games medalist and wrestling expert, brings a rare tactical dimension. Pereira, known for his 11 KOs in 13 wins, has always excelled in striking, but his grappling was exposed against Gane. By leaning on Velasquez’s experience, the Brazilian aims to balance his arsenal before facing Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335 on December 12.
The choice of Velasquez is no coincidence. The former UFC champion masterfully combined power and wrestling technique, two assets Pereira wants to incorporate. Training with Cain is like adding a layer of concrete to my ground game, Pereira confessed during a training session. A statement that speaks volumes about the Brazilian’s ambition: turning a weakness into a strength before returning to the main stage.
A return under high pressure
On December 12, UFC 335 promises to be an emotionally charged event. After his loss to Gane, Pereira had to face criticism about his lack of versatility. By teaming up with Velasquez, he sends a clear message: he refuses to rest on his laurels. His journey, marked by spectacular KO victories, could take on a new dimension if his grappling improves enough.
For Pavlovich, accustomed to early KOs, this preparation could well change the game. The Russian, undefeated since 2021, will have to contend with a more complete opponent. One thing is certain: UFC 335 is shaping up to be a fight where technique could take precedence over raw power.