MMA is usually a polarizing sport, but unexpected friendships can bloom like flowers in concrete. Such is the case with Alexander Volkanovski and Alex Pereira. Volkanovski, the former UFC featherweight champion, recently shared some surprising thoughts. He admitted that the current light heavyweight champ, Pereira, has been growing on him.
This revelation came as a bit of a plot twist. After all, Volkanovski is famously close friends with Pereira’s arch-rival, Israel Adesanya. The Australian fighter revealed this in a recent UFC 303 breakdown video. As such, Volkanovski also talked about Pereira’s transition in front of the camera, letting out a funnier side from his stone-cold killer phase.
Alex Pereira is growing on me. Obviously…Izzy’s my boy. I’m always gonna have Izzy’s back, but Pereira’s growing on me… He pulls a face, and he’s just like this no-emotion sort of face; he plays into it, and he’s clever in the way he promotes it. He’s actually quite cheeky; he’s really funny.
Alexander Volkanovski via his Official YouTube channel
Alexander Volkanovski went on to praise Pereira’s clever promotional tactics. He highlighted the Brazilian’s ability to play up his stoic persona for the cameras. Pereira’s poker face game is strong enough to impress even his rivals’ friends. This peek behind the curtain offers a different perspective on the light heavyweight champ.
Alex Pereira is set to rematch Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303. This is a short-notice bout after Conor McGregor withdrew due to injury, and his fight against Michael Chandler was scrapped. Volkanovski’s comments about Pereira shed light on the complex relationships in the UFC. Even fierce rivalries can’t always prevent mutual respect from developing.
Alexander Volkanovski reveals his picks for UFC 303 main event
Predictions are a part and parcel of MMA. Everyone can predict the outcome of a fight, but none have the experience that fighters themselves possess. Plus, when a former champion speaks, people listen. Enter Alexander Volkanovski, as he recently gave his assessment and prediction of UFC 303.
Alexander Volkanovski gives his prediction for UFC 303 (via Sporting News/ Sports Illustrated)Volkanovski gave props to both fighters for saving the card. The former UFC featherweight champion backs Alex Pereira to finish Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303. His prediction relied upon Pereira’s past fights, his improved chin at light heavyweight, and his penchant for finishing fights early on.
I’m going to go KO TKO: Alex Pereira… Both take a lot of risks so anything can happen but you see a lot of footage of Alex Pereira sparring everywhere all over the world. Boxers, kickboxers, MMA fighters, no matter where he goes, so even when he’s doing tours, he’s sparring.
Alexander Volkanovski via his Official YouTube channel
Volkanovski sees Pereira’s composure as a key factor in the upcoming bout. He believed “Poatan” wouldn’t succumb to the pressures of a short-notice fight. The first fight saw Pereira stop Prochazka within two rounds to claim the light heavyweight title. Now, ‘BJP’ looks for revenge, served ice cold.
