Las Vegas, NV – UFC middleweight Alex Pereira feels like a win over Sean Strickland at UFC 276 on Saturday night will be his ticket to a title shot against the headliner Israel Adesanya.
“Yeah this is the fight that’s going to give me a chance for the title,” Pereira told Cageside Press among other media through a translator on Wednesday.
“I’m focusing on the win. This is MMA anything can happen I’m prepared for everything.”
It’s been well documented that Pereira (5-1) holds a win over Adesanya in kickboxing which has resulted in quite a bit of hype for the Brazilian fighter.
The champion has spent quite a bit of time talking about Pereira and saying that he can’t wait to punch him through his face with 4oz MMA gloves.
“Well it actually makes me confused. With those two (kickboxing) fights and the knockout actually he claims to be a pillow (gloves). Now we talk about 4 ounce gloves, it is deadly weapons, but with the big pillows I already made him leave on a stretcher,” Pereira said.
“Imagine what is going to happen under 4 ounces.”
With Adesanya defending his title at UFC 276 against Jared Cannonier popular thought is that Pereira will challenge the winner in his next bout. He names his preferred choice.
“I believe Adesanya is going to fight good in this fight. Even though he don’t seem to be too focused on it because he’s been talking about me so much for this past week. He should be focused more on the fight they have because he has a dangerous fight. I still believe that he’s going to win and I’m rooting for him,” said Pereira.
Talking trash will be a constant theme for Peira this week as he takes on Strickland who is know for making some rather outlandish statements at time. Pereira isn’t worried about the talk from Strickland however.
“He doesn’t influence me or nothing. I know that sometimes he likes to talk a little bit. Sometimes he’s talking not nice things in the camera. They even had to cut swearing on camera and everything else,” Pereira said.
“For me it makes no difference.”
Watch the full UFC 276 media day appearance by Alex Pereira above. Pereira faces Sean Strickland on the main card. The event takes place this Saturday, July 2, 2022 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV.
