Rising UFC star Alex Pereira made a special stop in Australia weeks before his title defense at UFC 303. During his visit, he linked up with the Australian hip-hop artist Spaniard for a training session that caught fans off guard but it was his sparring with heavyweight fighter Tai Tuivasa who literally turned heads .
The past 30 months have been difficult for Tai Tuivasa. The UFC heavyweight hasn’t won in more than two years, and his upcoming fight at UFC 305 is a prime opportunity for a comeback. When Tuivasa Jaerzinho began training to fight Rosenstruic, the opportunity arose to compete against Alex Pereira—and it was a wake-up call.
Pereira Pushes Tuivas to his limits
Alex Pereira made a name for himself as a dangerous striker, and during their competitive season, Tuivasa saw that potential firsthand. Pereira did not hold out, and the tightness of the encounter caused ‘Bam Bam’ to stumble. Reflecting on the experience, Tuivasa admitted he had not been on his game for too long. The struggle forced him to intensify his training efforts and move to the Middle East in a more focused way.
“It was kind of my first training session, and I got my sht punched,” Tuivasa told reporters before UFC 305. He needed it. “I think I went to Dubai a few days after that, and I was like, ‘Yeah, f. I’d better get on the train.’”
Reporters pressed Tuivasa for more details of the encounter, especially the experience of taking a punch from Pereira. Tuivas openly admitted that he wasn’t good-looking and well-trained. “His power… I fight at heavyweight, so we can throw a punch or two. But there was more… I hadn’t trained. I went in, and I was out of f**ing breath and they gave me a sht punch,” he said. Despite the tough match, Tuivasa said it was “all fun and games” and admitted sparring and taking hits was just part of their favorite pastime
Interestingly, Tuivasa was not the only one to feel the power of Pereira during his time in Australia. Pereira also wrestled Demsey McKean, a heavyweight with an impressive 22-1 record. The match was a bold move for Pereira, who had a big title fight coming up. Fans were initially concerned about the danger, but Pereira seemed unfazed.
The sparring session with McKean was intense, with both fighters pushing each other to their limits. Pereira complimented McKean on his technical skills after the meeting, and they even posed for pictures together, in mutual respect. Pereira’s willingness to take on such top opponents, regardless of their weight class, shows that he is confident and ready for any challenge
What’s next for Tuivas and Pereira?
As UFC 305 approaches, Tai Tuivasa is feeling the pressure to end his losing streak and prove himself once again. The brutal encounter with Pereira served as a harsh reminder of his career, and Tuivasa responded by doubling down on his training Whether this renewed focus would translate into success inside the Octagon remains elusive.
