- Alex Pereira congratulated Sean Strickland for his TKO win over Abus Magomedov
- “Poatan” insisted he knew all along that “Tarzan” will beat his opponent
Former UFC middleweight champion Alex Pereira knew early on that Sean Strickland will get the better of Abus Magomedov at UFC Vegas 76.
Not Surprised
Strickland only needed less than two rounds to stop Magomedov via TKO. While some did not see it coming, Pereira was not surprised with how the fight played out.
Shortly after the fight, “Poatan” congratulated “Tarzan” on social media along with a clip showing his initial reaction to his former UFC rival’s win. In it, the Brazilian’s wife asked him about his thoughts to which Pereira responded with, “Is this news to you?”
Check out the video below:
Congrats @SStricklandMMA 🥇 #UFCVegas76 pic.twitter.com/EDpWmOx4XI
— Alex "Poatan" Pereira (@AlexPereiraUFC) July 2, 2023
From foes to Partners
It can be recalled that Pereira was one of the most notable UFC fighters Strickland sparred with ahead of UFC Vegas 76. Needless to say, this lifts the lid on why “Poatan” was confident “Tarzan” will beat the living lights out of Magomedov. In return, Pereira previously said that Strickland would help him improve his English.
Pereira viciously knocked Strickland out in Round 1 of their middleweight showdown at UFC 276. But as it stands, it seems as if “Poatan” has found a new pal in “Tarzan,” something which rarely happens between two competitive rivals in the world of combat sports.
Meanwhile, Strickland’s win over Magomedov saw him completing back-to-back victories since losing to Jared Cannonier in December. The 32-year-old is now calling for a title shot as he believes he has proven his worth by eliminating the up-and-coming middleweights the UFC matched against him.
On the other hand, Pereira has officially moved up to light heavyweight and is now set to face former 205-pound king Jan Blachowicz at UFC 291.
