Alex Pereira’s move to heavyweight has created plenty of excitement ahead of UFC Freedom 250, but Michael Bisping is not fully convinced by what he has seen from the former two-division champion in training footage.
Pereira is set to face interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane in the co-main event at the White House on June 14. As part of his preparation, “Poatan” recently sparred heavyweight contender Tallison Teixeira, and the clips caught Bisping’s attention for the wrong reasons.
Watch the leaked sparring footage here
Bisping questions Pereira’s adjustment to heavyweight
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Bisping discussed the challenges Pereira faces while moving up in weight against naturally larger opponents. He wonders whether Pereira will be able to maintain his speed at a higher weight.
“He is going to put on 30 pounds, something like that. So that means he’s going to be slower.”
Bisping explained that sparring heavyweights is the logical way to prepare for someone like Gane, but he admitted the footage left him uneasy.
“I’ve got to say, it looks a little concerning for Alex Pereira.”
Bisping expected Pereira to have more control during the rounds.
“For Alex Pereira going up against Ciryl Gane, you would think that he would be having his way.”
“We see here, he’s backing him up against the fence, he’s about to go on the attack, nice 1-2, but Tallison fires back with some heavy fire power – cracks him with the right hand.”
The former UFC middleweight champion also pointed to Gane’s movement and speed as a possible issue for Pereira when they finally meet inside the Octagon.
“And you know that Ciryl Gane is going to have the speed advantage. He’s also going to be lighter on the feet.”
Watch Bisping give his take here
Bisping leaves room for doubt after footage surfaces
Despite his concerns, Bisping acknowledged that sparring clips rarely tell the full story. Fighters often experiment in training, and a short video does not always reflect how a full camp is going.
“Now granted, this is sparring, and we don’t know.”
“Maybe Pereira wasn’t feeling it that day.”
Tallison Teixeira has his own fight next
Meanwhile, rising Brazilian heavyweight Tallison Teixeira is focused on a major opportunity of his own. The undefeated knockout artist is currently preparing for a clash with Sergei Pavlovich at UFC Fight Night 277, a matchup that could immediately push him into the upper tier of the heavyweight division.
Pavlovich remains one of the most feared punchers in the UFC, known for his explosive first-round finishes and relentless pressure.