Alex "Poatan" Pereira is once again at the center of the conversation among fans of the UFC, but this time not because of a spectacular knockout or a new rivalry. In the last few hours, several videos published by the UFC herself and the content that the Brazilian has shared on his social networks have caused an unexpected debate among fans: many believe that the former champion looks much heavier than usual.
In one of the recent clips, Pereira appears training and moving with a clearly larger physique than the one he showed during his time as middleweight champion and later in the light heavyweight division. The Brazilian has been preparing his jump to heavyweight for some time and in the images he is seen with a noticeably greater volume. That physical change has made some fans wonder if the weight gain could affect his speed inside the octagon.
Pereira himself has already hinted at different times of his preparation that he is walking with much more weight than usual. In some recent videos, he has been seen hovering around 247-251 pounds, which is logical considering that he is now preparing to compete in the heavyweight division. The change in physique, however, has been evident enough to generate debate among followers of the sport.
Opinions are divided on social networks. While some fans believe that the Brazilian is simply adapting his body to the new category, others believe that he looks slower and that the increase in mass could work against him when he has to face one of the most technical heavyweights on the roster.
That opponent will be Ciryl Gane, one of the most mobile and accurate fighters in the division. The Frenchman has built much of his success on his footwork and his ability to move quickly despite his size. That is precisely why some fans believe that Pereira's mobility could be one of the keys to the fight.
The fight between the two is part of one of the most striking cards on the calendar, the event that the UFC plans to hold at the White House. For Pereira, the fight represents a historic opportunity: if he manages to defeat Gane, he could get closer to something that very few fighters have achieved in the history of the sport.
Meanwhile, the debate about his physique continues to grow among fans. Some see Pereira as more powerful than ever; others believe that the change could affect his usual style. The only thing that is certain is that the Brazilian will be under the spotlight again when he enters the octagon to face Ciryl Gane.