Michael Bisping expressed concern after viewing sparring footage between Alex Pereira and Glover Teixeira. The former champion found elements of the training session troubling.
Michael Bisping went on record to voice unease after watching sparring footage featuring UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and veteran Glover Teixeira, with the former middleweight champion indicating that certain aspects of the session gave him pause.
Bisping, 47, retired from competition with a professional record of 30-9-0 and has remained an outspoken presence in MMA media since hanging up his gloves. The Englishman, who stood six-foot-one with a 75-inch reach during his fighting days, averaged 4.33 significant strikes per minute across his career and is well-regarded as a technical analyst of the sport.
Pereira, 38, is the reigning light heavyweight champion carrying a 13-4-0 record. The Brazilian trains out of Teixeira MMA and Fitness and is widely considered one of the most dangerous strikers in the sport, landing 5.16 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 62 percent — figures that rank among the best in his division.
Teixeira, also 46 and Brazilian, holds a 33-9-0 professional record and shares the same gym as Pereira. The six-foot-two veteran brings considerable experience to the training room, connecting at a 49 percent striking accuracy rate and averaging 2.11 takedowns per 15 minutes throughout his career.
Why it matters
- Pereira is the reigning light heavyweight champion, meaning any concerns about his training camp carry real divisional weight
- Teixeira is both a former light heavyweight champion and Pereira's teammate, making the sparring dynamic unusually high-profile
- Bisping's commentary adds a credible critical voice to how Pereira's preparation is being perceived ahead of his next title defense
