Alex Pereira shows fast hands in heavyweight debut training footage

Alex Pereira is putting in the work ahead of his much-anticipated heavyweight debut, with new training footage showing the Brazilian striker looking sharp and quick despite the upcoming jump in weight class.

The UFC visited Pereira's gym at Teixeira MMA and Fitness to capture content for the countdown show tied to the White House event, and footage filmed by PlinioCruzMMA offered a glimpse of the 38-year-old working his striking combinations. The clips drew attention for the hand speed he displayed, a hallmark of his game that appears unaffected by the transition to a heavier division.

Pereira, who stands six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach, enters the heavyweight division as the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion and carries a professional record of 13-4. The orthodox fighter from Brazil has built his reputation as one of the most dangerous strikers in MMA, landing 5.16 significant strikes per minute at an exceptional 62 percent accuracy — numbers that rank among the best in the sport. His path to two-division gold, spanning middleweight and light heavyweight, has been defined almost entirely by his striking output rather than grappling, with just 0.11 takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.2 submission attempts in that same window.

Why it matters

• Pereira would become a rare fighter to compete across three UFC weight classes if successful at heavyweight
• His elite striking accuracy and volume translate as genuine threats regardless of divisional competition
• The size question is answered somewhat by his 193 cm frame and 201 cm reach, which are competitive measurements even among heavyweights
• A win would give him a legitimate path to challenging for a third divisional title