Every sport presents its own challenges when played under different conditions. In tennis, varying clay surfaces lead to different bounces and speeds, while in cricket, overcast skies can benefit bowlers by aiding the pitch. Some might assume that conditions don’t significantly affect combat sports, but Alex Pereira recently challenged this notion and explained how environmental factors can influence a fight’s outcome.
Recently, Poatan shared a video on his YouTube channel about how he’s preparing for his upcoming fight at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. At over 4,000 feet above sea level, this venue is like a high mountain, where the air is thin and hard to breathe.
The lower oxygen levels make training tougher, turning each workout into a struggle for breath. In this challenging environment, every inhale feels like a fight, pushing him to dig deeper as he gets ready to defend his light heavyweight championship title.
He says, “The thing about the altitude is that it’s hard [to train]. We have a great team here. We have Glover, Plinio [Cruz], Yousri [Belgaroui], ‘Cesinha’ [Cesar Almeida]. Sean Strickland is also coming next week to train with us here. I’m very happy with this preparation.”
Alex Pereira and Sean Strickland Join Forces for Intense UFC 307 Training Camp
Utah’s arena has been the backdrop for major upsets, like Justin Gaethje’s knockout of Dustin Poirier and Leon Edwards’ win over Kamaru Usman. Known for its brutal knockouts, the high altitude might play a significant role, as fighters often find themselves gasping for air. But Pereira seems happy with his camp and ready to put on a show.
Ahead of his upcoming title defense, Pereira has teamed up with his former rival, Strickland. Known as ‘Tarzan,’ Strickland is a workhorse who rarely tires and has a truly unconventional fighting style. Having him in Pereira’s camp is a huge advantage, as he brings unique insights and relentless energy to the training process.
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Talking about his experience at UFC 307 camp, he stated, “I spent a few days training with Sean Strickland, and I got to see how talented he is, his strategies, and how tough he is. I got a better understanding from this training than from actually fighting him.”
Indeed, with such high-level training, Pereira will be more dangerous than ever. The altitude challenge may not be as significant since he’s already training alongside a workhorse like Strickland, who will help him adapt and push through the tough conditions.
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