![[WATCH] Alex Pereira Sharpens His Grappling Skills Ahead Of UFC Title Defense](https://www.bjjee.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Alex-Pereira-grappling-training.jpg)
Alex Pereira is approaching his upcoming UFC 313 showdown with Magomed Ankalaev with a healthy dose of skepticism regarding the challenger’s game plan.
The two are set to square off in the main event on March 8 in Las Vegas, and many consider this to be Pereira’s toughest test as defending champion.
Specifically, Ankalaev has been relying heavily on his striking in recent fights, a strategy that has paid off handsomely.
However, his grappling abilities are well-documented, even if he hasn’t utilized them too much in his recent UFC performances.
Since signing with the UFC in 2021, Pereira has achieved remarkable success, particularly given that he’s still catching up in areas like MMA-specific training and experience compared to many of his opponents.
Therefore, in preparation for his fight with Ankalaev, Pereira has been honing his grappling skills, as showcased in a recent training clip posted to social media.
The video, shared by the Fighting Nerds gym in Brazil, features Pereira training with Geovanis Palacios – a former Olympic wrestler for Cuba with seven professional MMA bouts on his record.
Palacios’ elite wrestling background offers Pereira the opportunity to sharpen his defensive grappling and adapt to scenarios where Ankalaev might look to utilize his grappling pedigree instead of engaging in a striking battle.
Check it out below.
What do you think of Pereira’s grappling skillset?
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