UFC middleweight champion Alex Pereira has a very inspiring life story. Pereira belongs to the indigenous Brazilian tribe called the Pataxo tribe. From there to fighting in the Madison Square Garden to win a UFC title, the road to the top for Pereira has been sensational. But, perhaps without the help of Glover Teixeira, that could not have been possible.
Ever since Poatan decided to resume his MMA career in 2020, Alex Pereira joined Glover Teixeira at his gym, Teixeira MMA & Fitness. It was a mutually beneficial relationship as Alex needed grappling lessons, while Glover had to improve his striking. But over the years, they have also developed a close friendship. It allowed Glover to observe Pereira and his winner’s mentality.
In a recent video uploaded on Alex’s YouTube channel, “AlexPoatanPereira,” fans caught a glimpse of how highly he thinks of the current UFC middleweight champ. Teixeira, with Alex by his side, addressed his gym members and fellow fighters. He used Pereira as an example of how professional fighters should dedicate themselves to the craft of fighting. During that, he also revealed Alex came back despite several hard training sessions.
Glover said. “He is doing his training, like I did, opened my gym here in 2014. I said that I don’t need to go any more, I don’t want to leave this anymore, Danbury (Connecticut). So I became a champion here like this. I brought people myself here. Because of that, I brought Poatan here too, to help me and then he stayed here!”
Glover further explained that many fighters throughout the years have passed through the gym and, in his own words, “They didn’t come back.” Hence, he appreciates Pereira’s grind and hard work to achieve his dream. At UFC 281, he dismantled Israel Adesanya to win the title. While he KO’ed the Kiwi, it did require a push from Teixeira in the final round to motivate himself.
Which gym does Alex Pereira train in the gym and who are his teammates?
As previously mentioned, Alex Pereira joined Glover’s Teixeira MMA & Fitness in 2020. While it is evident that the former UFC light heavyweight champ is running the gym, there are some hidden gems in the institution as well. Aside from the middleweight champion Alex Pereira, his sister and kickboxer, Aline Pereira is also a part of the gym.
She made her MMA debut on November 18, 2022, at LFA 147. However, she lost the bout against Helen Peralta via unanimous decision. In terms of other big-name UFC fighters, former title contender Dominick Reyes is also a part of the gym. UFC women’s flyweight fighter Sabina Mazo also fights out of the gym situated in Danbury, Connecticut.
Other than them, Bellator fighters like Guilherme Viana, Ilya Kotau, and Killys Mota are there as well. However, former UFC light heavyweight champ Lyoto Machida and Glory Kickboxing fighter Yousri Belgaroui have trained in the gym too. The gym opened up in 2014 and it has already produced two high-profile UFC champions. They will back Pereira once again as he looks to maintain his dominance against Israel Adesanya at UFC 287.