Renowned boxing trainer and analyst Teddy Atlas has never hidden the fact that he knows more about the science of boxing than mixed martial arts, but comparisons between the two combat sports are starting to become more common, at least when it comes to athletes.
On Saturday, Atlas witnessed another iconic performance from Alex Pereira, who launched a ferocious attack on Jiri Prochazka, taking him down with a devastating head kick just 13 seconds into the second round. The kick was the highlight of the match, but Pereira sealed the victory with a short left hook that sent Prochazka to the canvas just before the end of the first round.
Prochazka was saved by the horn and tried to recover during the break, but Pereira landed a fight-ending kick that ended the night. However, Atlas praised Pereira's punches that led to the knockout, particularly noting the UFC light heavyweight champion's ability to close the distance and inflict maximum damage from the inside.
“I haven't seen a punch that short since the Joe Louis movie – the late, great Joe Louis,” Atlas said. “Joe Louis was famous for throwing six-inch punches. I just saw a three-inch left hook. It's unbelievable.”
Atlas believes that beyond Pereira's incredible power and ability to land such hard-hitting shots with little room to maneuver, one of the most impressive parts of his game is the vision he uses to set up those shots.
Atlas, who was watching the UFC 303 fight, noticed several instances where Pereira seemed to know exactly which way Prochazka was going and launched his attack in that direction.
“He's got radar,” Atlas says. “He's got X-ray vision. He sees things that other people can't see. That's the type of guy that Terence Crawford is in boxing. He sees things, he's calm, and when you're in that calm environment, all you can do is see things and react just a little bit.” [faster].
“Everybody calls it timing, but he has special timing because he's so calm and he's got those eyes.”
Even before the fight began, Atlas was mesmerized by the sheer intensity of the matchup between Pereira and Prochazka in the cage. They stared each other down, and Atlas witnessed multiple instances where Pereira psychologically undermined his opponent with just a look.
He especially felt that on Saturday, when Pereira appeared to intimidate Prochazka with a cold, dead look in his eye.
“Don't think it doesn't work,” Atlas explained, “When you get results like this, it gives your opponent access to your soul. It's like they can see right into your soul. You had Sonny Liston, George Foreman, Mike Tyson, and it worked for them.”
“It helps wear you down. That's what you're trying to do. You're trying to break them down. So what do you do when you get in there? You're trying to break them down physically, but before that starts, you're trying to break them down mentally. That puts him in as good a position as anybody.”
Atlas couldn't know exactly what Prochazka was thinking in the cage before the knockout, but he feels he at least understood her reaction.
Pereira's uncanny ability to remain calm under attack and then unleash hellish flames on his enemies is a particularly terrifying skill, and it's one that may impress Atlas the most.
“[Pereira’s opponents are] They think, 'Why doesn't he feel the way I do?'” Atlas says. “My heart is [pounding]I feel all these things. Doesn't he feel? So he's not human?'
“That's when you start to get into the insanity zone. It's like the boogeyman zone. [Alex Pereira] It's the boogeyman.”
