UFC’s hallowed grounds are well acquainted with fighters avenging themselves after a monumental loss. Remember Conor McGregor gaining his retribution at UFC 202 after his eternal rival, Nate Diaz, “shook the world” at UFC 196. Or when Georges St-Pierre avenged his TKO loss against Matt Serra at UFC 83 after the unbelievable happened at UFC 69. Going further back, Randy Couture famously battered Vitor Belfort in a classical trilogy bout at UFC 49, redeeming his first-round doctor stoppage loss from UFC 46. This incredible list can go on! However, in Glover Teixeira’s redemption arc, his protege Alex Pereira proved to be the protagonist that the veteran couldn’t be.
We all know the tale! ‘Poatan’ decided to move on from the middleweight division after his eternal rival, Israel Adesanya, dispatched him to the shadow realm at UFC 287. The Brazilian’s foray into the 205lbs division was perceived as an anime saga where a student went on a mission to avenge his teacher who was grooming him to achieve his revenge. But how did it come to fruition? In this story, Teixeira’s rivals happen to be Jiri Prochazka and Jamahal Hill.
For the unversed, ‘BJP’ was the man who took Teixeira’s 205lbs title and ended his reign at UFC 275. Moreover, the Brazilian was then infamously defeated by Hill in a one-sided beatdown at UFC 283 in Brazil which also proved to be the legend’s last bout. Thus, losing any chance of getting even with ‘Sweet Dreams’ and the Czech juggernaut. Moreover, ‘Poatan’ was present in Teixeira’s corner on that fateful night in Brazil and made his mission to avenge his mentor’s loss. And this is what he went on to do! ‘Poatan’ avenged Teixeira’s loss against Prochazka twice at UFC 295 and UFC 303. Moreover, he sent Hill into the shadow realm at the iconic UFC 300 event.
Pereira has revealed multiple times that revenge was not something he sought while fighting his opponents, but he was happy to bring the belt back to his coach’s gym. However, the 45-year-old veteran has a little different take than his teammate. Teixeira appeared on The Coach And The Casual podcast and said, “Oh Jamahal Hill. Yeah! Jamahal Hill and Jiri. Of course. It’s team you know, it’s more like a team. You don’t want like this guy to. It’s like a soccer team or a jiu-jitsu team. You don’t wanna losing to the same school, again.”
This is when the hosts poked the former champ to pick which revenge arc was more satisfying. Teixeira stated, “Ah.. just both man. Yeah, Jamahal maybe because he was talking more s–t so maybe.”
MMA: UFC 300-Weigh Ins Apr 12, 2024, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA UFC fighter Alex Pereira during ceremonial weigh-ins for UFC 300 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Las Vegas MGM Grand Garden Arena Nevada USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xMarkxJ.xRebilasx 20240412_mjr_su5_004
Teixeira and Pereira both share a good amount of respect for Jiri Prochazka. However, the feelings are definitely not mutual for former light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill, probably because ‘Sweet Dreams’ tried his best to rattle ‘Poatan’ and his team with his antics leading up to the main event of UFC 300 and also engaged in an unnecessary confrontation at the UFC PI recently.
The former champion has been a cornerstone in Pereira’s life and has observed the growth he has achieved in MMA after dominating the kickboxing world. He identifies some attributes in ‘Poatan’ that he believes set his teammate apart from other fighters.
Glover Teixeira weighs in on Alex Pereira’s elite boxing skills
Max Holloway once yelled inside from the Octagon “I am the best boxer in UFC baby” after setting the record for the most significant strikes (445) landed in a single bout against Calvin Kattar. However, after Ilia Topuria and Alex Pereira’s prominent rise, the debate has started once again. Glover Teixeira, as a regular observer of the sport, picked Pereira as the best UFC boxer while recognizing the others as well. He stated that the Brazilian’s power and the way he throws punches reminds him of how Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao used to throw their punches.
Continuing his conversation with the Coach and the Casual podcast, Texeira said, “Alex! Just because the power and the way how he hits and those guys they are great punchers you know, like Topuria, he has incredible combination. But, I feel like, he’s a great boxer, don’t get me wrong. He can be top two, but like Alex have the eyes. You could see Alex move like Mayweather, and Pacquiao, in a way because. That range is there! Alex does those kinds of things.”
What do you think of Glover Teixeira and Alex Pereira’s revenge arc? Comment below!
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