In the main event of UFC 312 Staart Middleweight Champion Dric Du Plessis not only to Sean Strickland, but also light heavyweight champion Alex 'Patan' Pereira.
Alex Pereira will again be in Sean Strickland's corner for his incoming middleweight Title Rematch against 'Still Knocks', which is planned for the UFC 312 main event on Saturday 8 February.
Although there has been a fierce debate online about whether Alex Pereira will be an advantage or obstacle to Sean Strickland's title ambitions; Head coach Eric Nicksick has now defended the move.
Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty images
The coach of Sean Strickland on Alex Pereira is in their UFC 312 corner
Coach Erick Nicksick spoke with Mmafighting's Mick Heck, how the decision to bring in Pereira was a “convenience” after Bellator champion Johnny Ebblen had withdrawn from that expected role.
“He would be there [anyway]And it was just one of those things I looked at the corner; Johnny Eeblen couldn't make it and it was just a matter of convenience. “
Nicksick explained that although it will be invaluable to have Pereira Sat Cageide, there is demonstrably an even greater advantage for Strickland when it comes to preparing the pre-fight in the dressing room.
“These are two guys who really trust each other, Sean went out to help him prepare for Khalil Rountree and you know what people don't understand – and I see people think this is a publicity – it's more about The comfort in your corner.
“And not only that what Alex brings to the dressing room and Sean warms up very, very hard. Sean actually fights in the back to get his eyes, rhythm and timing on point – so who is better to be back there to help you warm up than Alex Freaking Pereira. “
There has been an argument that Pereira does not speak enough English to be able to help Strickland and Nicksick Legitiem during the fight against Dricus du Plessis, although the experienced coach is not worried about the language barrier.
'I see a few comments about him who doesn't speak English, [but] He was in the corner for the last Dricus fight, he was right behind me, and he told me everything in my ear as 'hey, make sure he pokes more, making sure he pricks more'.
“We speak MMA, there is enough for him to be able to say that he is a source for us and looks, when we go into the fight, who is better to have in your corner than Alex Pereira?”
“I will take him in every capacity that we can get, but there are many deeper levels and layers to have him in the corner than he just got scary,” Nicksick argued and added: “He's going to us a barrel to help. “
Daniel Cormier, Dricus du Plessis responds to the UFC 312 roll of Alex Pereira
Although Nicksick is convinced that Pereira Strickland will give that extra motivation is needed to claim UFC Gold again, there will be many skeptics who are not included in the former double champion Daniel Cormier.
“For me it seems dangerous … It seems risky for Alex to go all the way to Australia and know everything that goes into a training camp and how difficult that traveling can be on your body when you prepare to continue to defend your world championship.
“So how strong is that band? How much does Sean Strickland now mean for Alex Pereira to take that risk? Because believe me, it's a risk. “
Dricus Du Plessis himself has also come out to state that Pereira Cageide will not make much difference of how the fight takes place, with reference to the language barrier.
“He was also in the corner in the first fight, I mean, they don't even speak the same language. It doesn't really make much difference if he does or not … Strickland can hardly understand his own coach who is also American. How is he going to understand Alex Pereira? “
UFC 312: du Persis vs Strickland 2 will go live from Australia on Saturday 8 February.
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