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Sean Strickland has daddy issues.
That may explain his disdain for “weird father roles” and paternal “cowards” … though it’s also possible that “Tarzan” just has a few screws loose. Either way, his personal “demons” and “violent thoughts” are no match for the jungle hardness of Alex Pereira.
“The problem with Alex is that he hits really f*cking hard, you guys — really f*cking hard. But let me tell you why,” Strickland told The Schmo (transcribed by MMA Junkie). “When you get raised in the jungles of Brazil where you don’t have running water and surviving off tapir and wildebeest as an infant, and then you get worked in a tire shop, that’s a hard man to fight. It’s hard, bro, and my daddy issues don’t make up for that level of hardness. So it was good work.”
One of the lasting side effects of that particular upbringing is “Jungle Brain.”
Strickland was brought in to help Pereira train for his light heavyweight title defense opposite No. 8-ranked contender Khalil Rountree Jr., who will try to replicate this stunning performance at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City and take home the 205-pound crown. “Poatan” stopped “Tarzan” when they went to war at UFC 276 back in summer 2022.
“I just can’t see Khalil pulling it off,” Strickland told Helen Yee. “I think I may have watched him fight Anthony Smith. I just can’t see it happening. I don’t think he has the tools in the toolbox to beat Alex. He’s not knocking him out. He’s not outstriking him. He’s not outwrestling him. I think Alex is going to make easy work of this fight.”
We’ll find out this weekend in “The Beehive State.”
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 307 fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPNN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 307: “Pereira vs. Rountree Jr.” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here. For the updated and finalized UFC 307 fight card and ESPN+ lineup click here.