Alex Pereira Brings in Cain Velasquez to Work on Wrestling Ahead of UFC 335
Alex Pereira trained with two-time heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez at the UFC Performance Institute as he prepares to face Sergei Pavlovich.
Alex Pereira has enlisted the help of two-time UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez as he prepares for his next fight at UFC 335 on December 12.
Velasquez shared footage of the session on Instagram, showing the pair working at the UFC Performance Institute. Per MMA Junkie's Mike Bohn, the technique session focused on wrestling, specifically breaking out of standing back control.
Pereira faces Sergei Pavlovich in his second heavyweight bout at UFC 335 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The former middleweight and light heavyweight champion lost his heavyweight debut to Ciryl Gane by second-round TKO at UFC Freedom 250 earlier this year.
The Gane loss exposed the wrestling gap that follows Pereira at every weight class. Bringing in Velasquez, one of the most dominant heavyweight wrestlers in UFC history, signals that Pereira's camp is taking the grappling threat seriously ahead of the Pavlovich fight.
Pavlovich is primarily a striker known for his devastating power, but at heavyweight any opponent can look for the takedown when the opportunity presents itself. Pereira's willingness to address his weaknesses with one of the all-time greats suggests a more complete game plan for his second run at the heavyweight division.
This is smart from Pereira. The Gane fight showed everybody what happens when a world-class grappler gets hold of him, and Cain Velasquez is one of the best to ever do it on the ground at heavyweight. You want to learn how to stop takedowns at 265? Go to the guy who used to ragdoll everybody in the division.
Pavlovich is a different challenge than Gane. He is going to come forward throwing bombs, which is more in Pereira's wheelhouse. But the wrestling work tells me Pereira is not just preparing for Pavlovich. He is building a skill set for a long stay at heavyweight.
I live a few miles from that Performance Institute, and seeing Cain back in the gym working with fighters is good for the sport. The man went through hell the last few years. If he can help Pereira solve the grappling puzzle at heavyweight, that is a great second act.
KEEP TALKING FIGHTS.
MMABrandon Moreno vs Charles Johnson Booked for UFC 335 in Las Vegas
MMAAlex Pereira Accuses Daniel Cormier and the UFC of Manipulating Gane vs Hokit Narrative
MMAHow UFC Rankings Work: The Media Panel, Meta Rankings and Title Shots
MMA