Alex Pereira is siding with former UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland ahead of Strickland’s title fight against reigning champion Khamzat Chimaev.
With UFC 328 set for this weekend in Newark, New Jersey, former two-division UFC champion Alex Pereira has made it clear who he wants to see leave with the belt when Sean Strickland challenges Khamzat Chimaev in the main event. Pereira said he is rooting for Strickland and believes the former middleweight champ has the tools to get it done against one of the division’s most dangerous forces.
The matchup carries major stakes at 185 pounds. If Chimaev wins, he further cements himself as the centerpiece of the division and likely heads toward a run of high-profile defenses. If Strickland pulls off the upset, the title picture gets interesting fast, with a possible rematch market and a new round of contenders suddenly back in play. That is a big reason this fight has drawn so much attention from American fans, especially because Strickland remains one of the sport’s most polarizing and talked-about personalities.
Pereira said his opinion of Strickland changed once they shared the cage, praising his toughness, experience, constant pressure, and sharp jab. He also said he learned a lot when they trained together after their fight. In Pereira’s view, Strickland’s path is straightforward but difficult: stay composed, move forward, defend the takedown, and make his jab and front kick matter over five rounds.
That tactical point is the whole fight. Chimaev’s pressure and wrestling have made him a nightmare matchup for nearly everyone, while Strickland does his best work when he can dictate pace behind volume and discipline. Newark should give the bout a big-fight feel, and American MMA media has largely framed this one as a classic style clash between a relentless grappling threat and a fighter who thrives on durability and attrition.
Pereira told UFC he is excited for the matchup and hopes Strickland gets his hand raised. Come Saturday night, the real question is whether Strickland can keep the fight in his world long enough to change the middleweight division again.
