In Teddy Atlas‘ eyes, UFC mild heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has a particular set of abilities solely seen in a few of the world’s best strikers.
Returning to the Octagon on simply 16 days’ discover, ‘Poatan’ added one other highlight-reel knockout to his resume, securing a surprising second-round head-kick KO in opposition to ex-titleholder Jiri Prochazka within the UFC 303 headliner.
It was maybe Pereira’s most spectacular efficiency but, incomes essential acclaim from pundits, together with Atlas who marveled at Pereira’s potential to generate knockout energy with little house to work.
“I haven’t seen a brief punch like that since Joe Louis movie, the late, nice Joe Louis,” Atlas mentioned of Pereira’s late first-round knockdown of Prochazka. “Joe Louis was well-known for throwing six-inch punches. I simply noticed a three-inch left hook. Unimaginable” (h/t MMA Combating).
Atlas additionally marveled at Pereira’s potential to seemingly know precisely what his opponent was going to do and when enabling him to execute his offense flawlessly.
“He’s obtained radar,” Atlas mentioned. “He’s obtained x-ray imaginative and prescient. He sees issues different individuals don’t see. Terence Crawford in boxing is that type of man. Once you see issues and also you’re that calm, and also you’re in that calm type of atmosphere, all you could be in, you see issues and react just a bit bit [faster].
“They name it timing, however he has particular timing as a result of he’s that calm and he’s obtained these sorts of eyes.”
Teddy Atlas fascinated by the viral staredown between Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303
Earlier than the combat even started, everybody, together with Atlas, was captivated by the extraordinary staredown between Pereira and Prochazka. For minutes, ‘Poatan’ locked eyes together with his opponent, staring into the soul of ‘BJP’ and setting the stage for what can be one other epic evening for the ‘Brazilian Boogeyman.’
Once more, Atlas in contrast Pereira’s quiet depth and talent to intimidate his fellow man with a easy stare to a few of the greatest names in boxing historical past.
“Don’t suppose that doesn’t have an impact,” Atlas defined. “Once you get these sorts of outcomes behind it. When a man can go into your soul, it’s like he’s wanting proper by way of. There was Sonny Liston, there was George Foreman, there was any individual named Mike Tyson — it labored for them.
“It helps deteriorate the man. That’s what you’re making an attempt to do. You’re making an attempt to interrupt a man down. So if you get in there, what are you doing? You’re making an attempt to bodily break a man down. However earlier than it begins, you’re mentally making an attempt to interrupt them down. That’s the place he has the top begin on everyone.”
