Alex Pereira has been blowing up headlines lately, airing grievances about the errant strikes to the back of the head he received against Ciryl Gane, and a Brazilian combatant who has held UFC gold has offered her thoughts on this matter. The referenced mixed martial artist is Cris Cyborg, who prepares for what could be her final MMA fight ever when she defends her PFL featherweight crown against Ketlen Vieira at PFL Tampa on August 22nd.
During her media day amid PFL San Diego fight week, the five-promotion champion mentioned the dangerous nature of the sport earlier in her scrum. When asked about her fellow countryman, Alex Pereira, having a bit of a rough situation at the UFC Freedom 250 card with the back of the head strikes that landed on him in his bid to become a three-division champion, Cyborg said [via Bowks Talking Bouts],
I think when you get a very excited fight, especially when you catch one punch because the punch was clean. So the other fighter [Ciryl Gane] get very excited. This happens sometimes with me when you punch and then sometimes you can hit in the back of the head. But have on here in the ear around the ear you can have some places there. But sometimes you don’t want to do this but sometimes you get excited after the fight… It sometimes happen.”
Alex Pereira has a key hole in his game, per ex-two division UFC champion
Alex Pereira has some gaps in his overall MMA approach, which were outlined by Daniel Cormier prior to the former’s interim title bid at the White House last month. DC posted the full question and answer show that he did to his YouTube channel, and when responding to an inquiry regarding how he would coach ‘Poatan’ in a throw down with now two-time interim UFC heavyweight champion Gane, Cormier stated [via Bloody Elbow],
“Well, I think Pereira is so good offensively that at times he ignores his defenses, especially when he has you hurt. That’s why ‘Izzy’ was able to do what he did to him that one time. And we have seen him hurt before because he’s so good offensively….So, I would tell him to be mindful, make sure his hands are always where they’re supposed to be and respect what’s coming back in his direction.”