THE SCARIEST FIGHTER in the world is mashed into the side of the cage. Alex Pereira barely moves, for nearly a minute, his sparring partner draped across both legs in a controlling position. Pereira locks around the guy's arms and just stays there, to the point that his stillness becomes worrisome.
This is Pereira's final training session from his home base, Teixeira MMA & Fitness in Connecticut, before he heads to Vegas to headline UFC 313 on March 8. He'll defend his light heavyweight title belt against Russian star Magomed Ankalaev, who hasn't lost since March 2018.