Alex Pereira has enlisted the help of former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez to sharpen his grappling skills ahead of his upcoming fight against Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335. The Brazilian, preparing for a five-round co-main event bout, is focusing on improving his body lock defense, an area where Velasquez’s expertise is well established.
Velasquez shared footage of a recent training session with Pereira on his Instagram account, captioned “Chama por vida.” The video shows Velasquez demonstrating techniques for handling body locks from both sides, with Glover Teixeira observing the session. Velasquez’s wrestling background, including NCAA Division I All-American honors and the Pac-10 Wrestler of the Year award in 2005 while at Arizona State University, gives weight to his instruction. His collegiate record of 86-17 is a strong foundation for his UFC wrestling dominance.
Pereira’s move up to heavyweight means facing larger opponents who pose a threat on the ground, an area where the striker has drawn questions. Velasquez’s experience of dismantling heavyweights like Brock Lesnar, Junior dos Santos, Antonio “Minotauro” Nogueira, and Antonio Silva through relentless wrestling pressure could provide Pereira with valuable tools to improve his takedown defense and grappling exchanges.
Since his release on parole earlier this year, Velasquez has returned to the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, mentoring younger fighters. His return to the gym followed a prison sentence related to a 2022 incident, for which he served about 11 months of his remaining term at a state prison in Soledad. Velasquez’s early parole was granted after credit for time spent in custody and participation in rehabilitation programs.
The training footage shows Velasquez in good shape, signaling his ongoing involvement in MMA. He also posted a photo at the UFC Performance Institute with active fighters including Johnny Walker, Sean Sharaf, and Tatiana Suarez. His work with Pereira fits into his role as a mentor, helping the Brazilian adapt to the demands of the heavyweight division.
Pereira’s fight against Pavlovich at UFC 335 follows the heavyweight title bout between Ciryl Gane and Josh Hokit at UFC 334. A win for Pereira could keep his chance of becoming the first UFC fighter to hold titles in three weight classes alive, despite his striking being his strongest asset. Improving his grappling under Velasquez’s guidance is part of his preparation to face bigger, more physically imposing opponents.
Velasquez’s return to training and coaching younger fighters creates an opportunity for Pereira to learn from one of the most effective wrestlers in UFC heavyweight history. The co-main event at UFC 335 will offer a clearer measure of how well Pereira has integrated those lessons into his heavyweight game.
According to Yahoo Sports.
