Alex Pereira, the UFC light heavyweight champion, is preparing for his title defense against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313. During his final training session at Teixeira MMA in Connecticut, Pereira demonstrates his unique fighting style, characterized by a calm demeanor that belies his explosive power. Known for his knockout ability, Pereira attributes his striking prowess to a combination of genetics, technique, and an early job at a tire shop that developed his explosive movements. His coach, Glover Teixeira, praises Pereira’s power and relaxation during fights, emphasizing that this unique combination sets him apart as a fearsome competitor in the octagon.
THE MOST FEARED FIGHTER in the world finds himself wedged against the cage. Alex Pereira remains almost motionless, with his sparring partner leaning heavily against his legs. As he grips the partner’s arms, the tension in the air grows alarming due to his stillness.
This is Pereira’s final training session at Teixeira MMA & Fitness in Connecticut before heading to Las Vegas to headline UFC 313 on March 8, where he will defend his light heavyweight championship against Russian contender Magomed Ankalaev, who boasts an unblemished record since March 2018.
He has been sparring for five five-minute rounds against five different opponents to simulate the intensity of his upcoming fight in The Octagon. It’s easy to misinterpret this moment as fatigue or a feeling of being trapped, while his partner attempts a double-leg takedown. However, that’s not the case with Pereira. He is a tightly wound spring. His calm demeanor often precedes explosive strikes that are so rapid and forceful, they evoke fear when they finally unleash. At this moment, the spring is ready to snap.
Pereira embodies the adage regarding why “Jaws” generates fear: it’s not the shark, but the ocean. The ocean is enigmatic and unknowable, presenting numerous frightening possibilities, leading our imagination to visualize horrors beyond reality. While Pereira is indeed a shark when he chooses to attack, he primarily exists as the ocean, presenting a calm demeanor that may signal indifference or fatigue. “Even moments before a fight, Alex appears as if he’s simply shopping for groceries rather than stepping into the cage,” shares his coach and UFC legend Glover Teixeira.
With the side of his face pressed against the fence, Pereira suddenly erupts. In an instant, he springs away from the cage, employing an underhook to push his partner aside. Now standing a few feet apart, Pereira begins his traditional probing of his opponent’s face to gauge distance, then unleashes a powerful one-two combination of a heavy right followed by a brutal left hook that delivers a sickening thwack-thwack sound. In just five seconds, he’s transformed from being in jeopardy to being the one instilling fear.
“At times, even I am frightened by my own power,” he later admits. “I understand my opponents willingly enter the fight, but they have families and loved ones, and I know I possess the ability to inflict serious harm.”
Pereira provides insight into the enigmatic nature of punching power. Most fighters share similar height, weight, and training methods. So, what makes Alex Pereira’s strength surpass that of his opponents?
Experts suggest the distinguishing factor between those with great power and those with devastating force is an unexpected skill—the ability to remain relaxed.
AT ITS CORE, a punch is a straightforward equation. It’s force equals mass multiplied by acceleration, compared against the mass and speed of the target being hit. “It’s fundamental physics—you are translating momentum from your body to your opponent’s head,” states Dr. Peko Hosoi, an MIT mechanical engineering professor. “The greater the mass you can activate, the more powerful the punch.”
Dr. Stuart McGill concurs with this mathematical perspective but boasts an extensive background in studying the science behind punching power. He has conducted numerous studies specifically targeting MMA fighters to comprehend the various intricacies involved in power generation. His findings indicate that fundamental elements such as footwork, timing, and utilizing more than just arm strength for punches are crucial for elite fighters; he has also noted that many of the most formidable knockout artists exhibit a remarkable ability to relax.
“The capacity to remain loose enables them to showcase the speed of their athleticism, which is counterintuitive for many,” explains McGill, a longstanding professor at the University of Waterloo in Ontario.
McGill has come to appreciate Bruce Lee’s insight that to strike fast and forcefully, one must “Relax then focus all of the energy into the fist.” He articulates how footwork creates angles for force application, a twitch that propels the fist, followed by relaxation that increases the closing speed to the target. Then, just prior to impact, the body tenses to maximize energy delivery into the opponent. McGill highlights Pereira’s extraordinary capability in foot positioning and body alignment to channel force effectively and develop what could be the scariest striking power in UFC history.
Many casual spectators misconstrue muscle mass as a direct correlate to power, according to McGill. Several individuals consulted for this article pointed out Brock Lesnar as an instance of a physically dominant athlete who, despite his strength, lacked the technical skills necessary to maximize his power potential. As Lesnar faced exceptional strikers like Alistair Overeem and Cain Velasquez later in his career, he suffered decisive defeats. “After decades of measuring elite athletes, raw strength does not correlate with performance in the manner many believe,” McGill observes. “It’s the fighters like Matt Brown who truly embody the threat.”
McGill has collaborated with Brown, a recently retired MMA veteran, who attributes his longevity in The Octagon and his impressive record of 13 knockouts in UFC history to insights from McGill’s research. Brown, standing at 6 feet and weighing 170 pounds, may not appear intimidating, but his technique and resilience established him as one of the most formidable finishers in cage-fighting history.
When speaking about fighting, Brown sounds like someone in a laboratory. He refers to his capability of delivering impactful right uppercuts and elbow strikes as “activations” and “creation of effective mass,” language that aligns with McGill’s terminology. Recognized as one of the sport’s top thinkers regarding punching dynamics, Brown believes his cognitive approach has contributed to his position as one of the longest-serving fighters in UFC history. “Power initiates in the nervous system,” he states. “Your brain initiates the entire process, and mental relaxation is key for power punchers.”
Considering the most dangerous punchers in the sport’s history, Brown immediately cites Pereira, then hesitates, as if acknowledging Pereira’s superiority over the rest. He highlights peak Conor McGregor as another example of a technically proficient power striker before also mentioning Francis Ngannou and Dustin Poirier. Yet, he circles back to reiterate that Pereira epitomizes the pinnacle of UFC’s evolution over its 32-year existence.
“Pereira is simply incredible,” Brown remarks. “The first aspect I observe about him is his ability to stay relaxed. His length provides exceptional leverage. This length, combined with a relaxed state, generates significant power. His capacity to contract muscles rapidly and unleash energy efficiently when triggered is remarkable. Additionally, he’s exceptionally accurate, a trait often innate but can also be honed.”
Herein lies the paradox. While techniques and data can be studied and refined, an unquantifiable element of innate ability always exists in determining who possesses power and who does not. “There’s undoubtedly an element of mystery regarding which individuals are born with power,” remarks Brown.
Initially, as Pereira reflects on the origins of his power following his training session, he identifies two primary factors: technique and genetics. As a striking technician, both in kicks and punches, he perceives his relaxed demeanor as pivotal to his striking strength. Additionally, he attributes his notable stillness amid the chaos of his sport to his extensive training. Even when other fighters exhibit nervous energy along the cage’s edge prior to ring announcements, Pereira stands calmly, akin to someone idly waiting in line for a sandwich. “When you train as I do, confidence stems from knowing the effort has been put in, allowing for relaxation before and during fights,” he expresses. “I don’t experience fear or nerves.”
Demonstrating his stance, he mimics the technique for executing a powerful punch. He delivers a mockingly vicious shadowboxing right hand, then traces the source of his power backward.
Beginning with his fists, which appear unusually large for a 205-pound fighter, he comments on how sturdy and sharp his knuckles seem, reminiscent of a hidden strength. As he strikes his right hand against his left palm, the resounding slap emanating from it is unsettling. “I possess dense, heavy bones,” he mentions casually, illustrating how he subtly twists his right hand just before impact to ensure his index and middle finger knuckles make first contact. The thought of those bony protrusions colliding with a face is unnerving.
Next, he moves from his fists to trace the energy along his right arm, over to his shoulder, and down through his core. He halts briefly to emphasize the need for a forceful twist of his midsection to execute his right punch, ensuring he’s coiled to apply equal torque with his left hook. “Bang-bang,” he states, executing the two punches in a synchronized motion.
Finally, he shifts his focus downward from his core to his thighs and calves. He pauses briefly to lift his right foot into his hand, emphasizing the significance of the muscle beneath his right big toe. With a playful smirk, he anticipates his coach/interpreter, Plinio Cruz, to finish the Portuguese explanation, much like a chef unveiling a critical ingredient in a recipe.
In this instance, Pereira highlights the muscle developed under his right big toe, which he claims is crucial for his power. “This is where it all begins,” he asserts, then bounces on it repeatedly. Earlier, his head coach Teixeira advised to observe Pereira’s walk, as it mirrors his fighting style: a direct line, propelled by his big toes that boost him upwards more than forwards. It lacks elegance yet reflects his imposing approach as he advances toward his opponents—calm, steady, and unstoppable.
Next, Pereira states it is necessary to address the genetic aspect of his power equation. He attributes his strong, gnarled hands and arms to his father, who worked as a bricklayer throughout his life. Pereira’s moniker, Poatan, means “Stone Hands,” which suggests that his father might have been the original Poatan. Furthermore, his sister Aline is also a professional kickboxer with notable punching power.
As Pereira hears Cruz translating his words regarding his genetic heritage, he unexpectedly interrupts in mid-sentence, as though he has stumbled upon a significant insight about the lethality of his fists.
“Technique and genetics are essential factors for me,” he affirms. “But the tire shop also played a significant role.”
He recalls those formative years with great fondness, crediting them as pivotal to his fighting background. He learned to generate explosive power while maneuvering rims in and out of tires. Reflecting on his time at the shop, he elucidates parallels to how Mr. Miyagi taught martial arts skills through mundane household tasks in “The Karate Kid.”
Pereira held that job through his teenage years, developing an explosive movement rhythm akin to his fighting style today—aim, relax, fire. “I owe a lot to that tire shop,” he notes.
Though he experienced a few confrontations growing up, he never engaged in boxing or MMA training until he was older. He vividly recalls the moment he recognized his potential—after a fiercely contested pickup soccer match at 18. A much older and larger opponent relentlessly taunted him, escalating tensions during the game.
As the match drew to a close, they squared off to fight. Although the man struck him, Pereira advanced and landed punches that resulted in his opponent collapsing to the ground, presumably unconscious, reminiscent of his UFC rivals. His friends remarked on how composed he appeared during the altercation. “You should abandon soccer and pursue fighting,” they advised him.
Thus began Pereira’s journey into boxing and kickboxing, which he embraced wholeheartedly. Many confuse his age (37) with his relatively modest 12-2 MMA record, yet he boasts an extensive fighting history dating back to 2010. Over 25 fights in amateur boxing followed by a professional kickboxing career of 33-7 before delving into MMA in 2015. Since joining the UFC in 2021, Pereira has proven to be a reliable mainstay. A victory over Ankalaev would mark his fourth successful title defense within a year—a rare occurrence in today’s UFC landscape. His past four wins have all ended violently; two by punches, one via head kick, and another by elbows. Last April, Pereira shattered the record for the hardest punch ever measured by a fighter at the UFC’s Performance Institute, surpassing heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.
After the bell clangs, signaling the end of his final sparring session ahead of UFC 313, Pereira collapses to the mat. He fought intensely that day, though his version of intense might differ from others. He spent significant time advancing without unleashing a single strike. Observing. Calculating. Being the ocean. Watching the potential violence linger nearby, just out of sight.
When the final buzzer sounds, Pereira lies flat on the canvas. His work is done, and he will soon board a private jet to Las Vegas for the fight week. Propping himself up on his knees, elbows, and head, his coaches approach, removing his shin guards and gloves. He remains in that position for a couple of minutes before finally rising to his feet and leaving the cage.
Teixeira’s gym, situated just beyond the New York border in Bethel, Connecticut, features a set of wooden bleachers beside a long, rectangular cage. Pereira seats himself on the lower tier. Sweating profusely, he leaves behind large wet prints from his feet as he moves. The prints made by his sizeable big toes are particularly pronounced on the ground.
He remains seated for about ten minutes, creating a sizable puddle of sweat around him. Coaches and teammates eventually gather around him, just outside his sweat pool, as Pereira raises his head. Conversations in Portuguese ensue, revolving around his development as a fighter. That day, Pereira excelled at fending off takedowns against some of the finest wrestling sparring partners in the sport. Teixeira reiterates that Pereira’s ability to remain calm amid chaos has become a vital asset in successfully defending against takedowns, once thought to be his weakest area.
Eventually, Pereira stands up and strides into another room, his big toes bouncing him along. Retrieving a water bottle, he returns to his previous spot, enveloped by his own sweat. As he gazes off into space for a moment, he tilts his head back, pouring water into his mouth. The ocean is thirsty.