Alex Pereira’s striking power is the stuff of legend. A former GLORY Kickboxing champion, Pereira transitioned into MMA with one of the most feared striking arsenals in combat sports. From the moment he set foot in the UFC, his knockout ability became his calling card, leaving a trail of fallen opponents in his wake. What sets Pereira apart is not just raw power but the precision and technique behind it.
His left hook has become his signature weapon—delivered with pinpoint accuracy and fight-ending force. His ability to generate knockout power from seemingly effortless strikes is a testament to years of elite kickboxing experience. But why does he keep a low guard? As he prepares to defend his title at UFC 313 against Magomed Ankalaev, we try to find out the reason behind it.
The reason behind Alex Pereira’s low guard
Alex Pereira primarily fights out of a traditional orthodox kickboxing stance. However, he maintains a slightly wider-than-shoulder-width base, with his body angled at around 45 degrees. The light heavyweight champion moves with surprising agility, utilizing bouncy footwork, which is unusual for such a big fighter. One of his more unique traits is his relaxed guard, which kind of lures in his opponents. He often keeps his hands low, analyzing the distances between him and his opponent. However, when needed, he instinctively raises his hands to block, parry, and counter incoming attacks with calculated precision.
One of the main reasons for this approach is efficiency. Keeping his hands low reduces unnecessary muscle fatigue, allowing him to maintain fluidity and explosiveness throughout a fight. This is especially important in five-round battles, where conserving energy can be the difference between victory and defeat. By keeping his hands lower, Pereira can launch punches and kicks with less telegraphing, making it harder for opponents to anticipate his attacks. Additionally, Pereira’s low hands don’t cause him any problem during defending in his fights.
He relies on head movement, footwork, and an expert sense of distance to evade strikes. Ultimately, Pereira’s low guard isn’t a sign of recklessness—it’s a carefully crafted strategy that allows him to maximize his offense while minimizing unnecessary movement. With his knockout power, elite reflexes, and years of experience, it’s a style that continues to make him one of the most dangerous strikers in the UFC. But what does Ryan Garcia think about his unusual technique? Let us find out about it below.
Ryan Garcia’s comments on Pereira’s hand-down fighting
Former UFC middleweight champion Alex Pereira was all set to make his first title defense against former champion Israel Adesanya at UFC 281. Their rivalry stretched back to their kickboxing days, where they repeatedly crossed paths in high-stakes battles. While both are among the most gifted strikers of their generation, it was Pereira who consistently held the upper hand.
With UFC gold on the line, Adesanya was looking to finally turn the tide. Although ‘The Last Style Bender’ failed to do so, Pereira once again showed why he is a world-class fighter. Ryan Garcia already knew about this and was impressed with Pereira’s striking skills.
He shared a video of the UFC champion training ahead of the fight as a story on Instagram and analyzed it for the fans. In the video, Poatan used his usual hand-to-hand fighting technique. While many might have questioned this, Garcia found it very interesting. The boxer claimed that although it might look that the Brazilian is careless, it’s his high fight IQ and anticipation which makes most of the differences in the fight.
Sharing the clip, Garcia mentioned, “May think his hands are down but his awareness of spacing and anticipation is what keeps him safe“. Hands low or not, Alex Pereira knows what he is doing inside the Octagon. With three title defences already under his belt, ‘Poatan’ is eyeing a fourth one.
Can he win his upcoming fight at UFC 313? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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