UFC gentle heavyweight champion Alex Pereira gave it his all throughout a current sparring session with heavyweight boxer Igor Adiel Macedo.
You may watch the pair face off under. As you’ll be able to see, they weren’t resisting in any respect.
Alex Pereira sparring HW boxer Igor Adiel Macedo 🔥
Alex lastly caught him with a left hook 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/yrANrLn5ol
— Ben Davis (@BenTheBaneDavis) January 13, 2025
Alex Pereira is clearly coaching onerous however presently has no fights booked. Nonetheless, he’s broadly anticipated to defend his title in opposition to Russian favourite Magomed Ankalaev within the close to future.
If that occurs, it will likely be his fourth protection of the sunshine heavyweight title after knocking out Khalil Rountree Jr., Jiri Prochaska and Jamahal Hill. He knocked out Prochaska in late 2023 to win the division’s vacant title.
Earlier than successful the sunshine heavyweight belt, Pereira briefly reigned as UFC middleweight champion, shedding the belt to longtime rival Israel Adesanya in his first protection. He beforehand held titles in two divisions within the Glory Kickboxing ring. Maybe that elite hitting expertise is why he carried out so effectively in a current sparring session with Macedo — though he did take some onerous pictures.
Macedo presently has a 13-1 report in skilled boxing. All 13 of his wins have come by knockout, together with his solely loss coming in a bout in opposition to former European Championship gold medalist Sergei Kuzmin in 2021.
Sparring with Macedo will certainly assist Pereira enhance his already glorious putting abilities, however he’ll possible spend most of Ankalaev’s coaching camp defending takedowns. The Russian has loads of knockout energy in his personal proper, but additionally has good wrestling, an space the place Pereira is weak. The champion could be anticipated to combat off takedowns from the beginning.
