Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereira is rightly revered for his ‘Stone Hands’, having used them to great effect to rise to the top of the middleweight and now the light-heavyweight divisions.
However, the Brazilian has shown he also has ‘Bolas De Aco’ – balls of steel in Portuguese – as well after stepping in to fill a significant Conor McGregor-sized hole at UFC 303 on June 29 in Las Vegas. After the Irishman’s return was officially postponed due to injury last Friday the call, almost inevitably, went out to Periera and he will now rematch with Jiri Prochazka for his 205lb title at the T-Mobile Arena.
When president Dana White was scratching around for a worthy main event for UFC 300 in April, the break-glass-in-case-of-an-emergency option was Poatan, who he went on to KO Jamahal Hill inside a round. The 36-year-old former kick-boxing star has risen to become White’s go-to guy in record time, with UFC 303 set to be just his ninth fight in the company.
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After stepping into the breach again, Pereira posted: “I understand that this fight is very close and there may be difficulties with the lead-up time. But if there is somebody that can make this happen, it is me! Poatan!
“This is why I am one of the biggest names in the UFC, Alex Pereira! I take risks that not one other person would be willing to take but I know I have my ancestors with me. The spirits are with me and I’m ready for it all.”
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Pereira’s popularity has been on the rise since his middleweight double-header with Israel Adesanya and was cemented when he elbowed Prochazka into oblivion to claim the vacant light-heavyweight crown last November. Already a superstar in South America, MMA fans around the globe are embracing the charismatic, no-nonsense star, who has improved his English no end over recent months as he looks to expand his appeal.
An example of his drawing power can already been seen at the box office for UFC 303. McGregor’s name alone helped draw a record gate of more than $20m, but his absence has not led to a drastic decrease in demand or a flood of tickets to secondary markets. While prices pre-Conor KO were above $1,000, the cheapest seats are still an eye-watering $700-plus.
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White, who has also had to deal with Khamzat Chimaev’s exit from UFC’s first Saudi Arabia show next weekend, will have had to dig deep into his back pocket to tempt Pereira to return to the octagon well ahead of schedule. However, with question marks around McGregor ever fighting again, Pereira wants to grab his chance to be UFC’s new figurehead fighter with both ‘Stone Hands’.
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