In response to Sean Strickland’s head coach, not everyone had a constructive response to the information that UFC gentle heavyweight champ, and previous Strickland opponent Alex Pereira shall be within the nook for the primary occasion of UFC 312.
Strickland challenges Dricus du Plessis in Sydney to cap off the promotion’s second pay-per-view of the yr on Feb. 8. It will likely be the second assembly between the pairing, with du Plessis profitable a razor-close resolution at UFC 297 a bit of over a yr in the past to seize the title.
Forward of the combat, Nicksick revealed that Pereria can be in Strickland’s nook, which led to some criticism. The Xtreme Couture head coach defined the no-brainer resolution.
“He was going to be on the market,” Nicksick advised MMA Combating. “It was simply a type of issues the place we’re wanting on the nook and I knew he’s going to be on the market, and Johnny Eblen couldn’t make it out. I hoped to have him within the nook. Myself and Danny Davis shall be there, and it was only a matter of comfort, and these are two guys that actually belief each other. Sean went on the market to assist him prepare for Khalil Rountree, and that is what individuals don’t actually perceive.
“I see some individuals considering it’s like a publicity factor; it’s extra concerning the comfortability in your nook — and never solely that, what Alex goes to carry to the locker room. Sean warms up very, very arduous. Sean principally fights within the again to get his eyes and his rhythm and his timing on level. Who higher to be again there that will help you heat up than Alex freaking Pereira, proper? Like, that man goes to assist.”
Pereira and Strickland grew nearer after they fought at UFC 276 in July 2022, the place “Poatan” delivered a nasty first-round knockout to earn his likelihood to face Israel Adesanya for the middleweight title 4 months later — which he gained with a late knockout.
The 2 have grown a kinship, and generally, when a bond is shaped like that, communication can are available in many kinds.
“I’ve seen a few feedback right here and there [that Alex] doesn’t even converse English — he was in our nook for the [first] Dricus combat,” Nicksick defined. “He sat proper behind me and he advised me every little thing in my ear. ‘Hey, ensure that he teeps extra, ensure that he jabs extra.’
“We converse MMA, proper? There’s sufficient for him to have the ability to say to assist be a useful resource for us. And look, if we’re going to battle, who higher to have in your nook than Alex Pereira? So I’ll take him in any capability that we are able to get. However there’s a number of deeper ranges and layers of getting him within the nook than simply him simply standing there, wanting scary. So he’s going to assist us a ton that in combat week and I’m excited to have him on the market.”
Following his win over Strickland, du Plessis went on to cease Adesanya at UFC 305 this previous August to retain his championship.
Strickland performed the longer, and arguably, a a lot riskier recreation by sitting out following a call win over Paulo Costa at UFC 302 in June. Khamzat Chimaev returned at UFC 308 in October and shortly submitted former champ Robert Whittaker, main a number of followers to imagine Chimaev leapfrogged Strickland.
Ultimately, Strickland’s danger paid off, and he’ll get his alternative to change into a two-time champion. And having Pereira within the nook — particularly coming off a spectacular 2024 marketing campaign for the 205-pound champion — shall be cherry on high of the sundae.
“To not point out, [Pereira has a] championship pedigree, a man who’s preventing to this degree and capability time and time once more, and understands the magnitude of what he’s coping with in these moments,” Nicksick stated. “I don’t want a freaking man to provide him a speech or say all of these items. That’s what he has myself and Danny for. However his presence alone means loads to us and having him there, and, and I’ll take him any day of the week.”
