This post-UFC 303 analysis of Alex Pereira may be the best MMA fighter analysis of all time from boxing icon Teddy Atlas.
Teddy Atlas has trained some of the world's best boxers, including Mike Tyson, Barry McGuigan and Shannon Briggs, so it's safe to say the martial arts icon knows his stuff when it comes to competing on the world stage.
Teddy Atlas analyzes Alex Pereira's performance at UFC 303
Legendary boxing trainer Teddy Atlas sees “something special” in Alex Pereira, who defeated former light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka in the second round in Las Vegas.
“You see a fighter who is mentally, physically and technically complete,” Atlas explained to ESPN MMA. “He beats his opponent mentally and he beats him physically.”
In the main event of UFC 303, Pereira took down Prochazka with a brutal hook just seconds before the end of the first round, then nearly decapitated BJP with a flawless high kick just 12 seconds into the second.
“He's like a chef who starts preparing the meat, softening and preparing the meat before it goes in the oven, so he's mentally softening his opponent, his victim, his partner before he puts it in the oven.
“To me, that's the perfect way to put it. And he cooks him.”
Atlas acknowledged that Pereira's hook was probably “the shortest left hook I've seen since Joe Louis,” noting that Louis was “famous for his six-inch punch, but [shot from Pereira] It was a three-inch hook. I've never seen anything like it.
“He's very smart and intelligent because he destroys your legs from under you. And in the second round, Ili had his arms down for a low kick and he came up high. A lot of people didn't notice that… he didn't see it because his reputation precedes him.” [and] His reputation for low kicking preceded him.”
Atlas, who also serves as a boxing commentator for the ESPN network, said there is actually an aspect of Pereira's game that compares him to legendary basketball player Michael Jordan: his aura in the most dramatic situations.
“The look in his eyes, the calm, being so calm in a restless environment. Michael Jordan talked about taking things slow, but players at that level rarely take things slow. He takes things slower, he takes things slower than anyone else.”
Teddy Atlas discusses his fight with Alex Pereira and makes bold comparisons to boxing's biggest stars
If Teddy Atlas was cornering or training someone for a fight with Alex Pereira, there's one key aspect of the game he'd implement, one that Prochaska should already be well aware of: “If I keep my right hand up, I might have a good chance.” [place to] start.”
“If I have an opponent at the gym, I'll glue his hands together with either Krazy Glue or Gorilla Glue, whichever works best, and glue his right hand to his cheek… sometimes I'll staple it in.”
But if Atlas himself was given the opportunity to coach Pereira, what would be the key elements he would want to focus on?
“The jab. As good as his left hook is, his jab is really good. Powerful, straight, hard. He has good fundamentals. That's the only thing that matters. If he uses the jab to hide the hook a little bit, maybe his opponent will just go for the hook.”
Finally, Atlas was asked if there is anyone in boxing, past or present, who can match the legendary aura of Alex Pereira.
“Sonny Liston, Sonny Liston was the first boogeyman, and this guy is the boogeyman too. Sonny Liston and Roberto Duran.”
Atlas explained that Pereira and Duran, in particular, share the ability to get into the mind of their opponent with something as simple as a pre-fight standoff.
[Duran had] He had those hollow eyes, those dead, cold eyes, and I remember some fighters saying “he's not normal, he's the devil, there's nothing behind those eyes.” [already] “I got the guy.”
Another outstanding analysis from a sports icon. You can follow the legendary trainer's latest and greatest analysis of the boxing world on his “The Fight with Teddy Atlas” YouTube channel.
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