An exciting prospect is set to watch Alex Pereira compete today. Pereira made headlines yesterday by successfully hitting the weight limit for the UFC 320 main event, having since regained a significant amount of weight. Tonight in Las Vegas, `Poatan` aims to recapture the light heavyweight title in a rematch against Magomed Ankalaev, seeking to avenge his previous loss. There`s considerable discussion about Pereira`s improved physical condition for this fight, following a period of rest. While his head coach prepares the former champion for this crucial rematch, he`s also nurturing another promising fighter toward future stardom.
King Edokpolo, Alex Pereira`s Training Partner, Aims for UFC Stardom After Meeting Dana White
On October 4, Alex Pereira has the opportunity to achieve a rare UFC milestone: becoming a three-time champion across two weight classes. While `Poatan` himself is a formidable presence at light heavyweight and even more so at middleweight, one of his training partners absolutely towers over him. Just as Pereira demonstrated immense potential early in his MMA career, another fighter who began training relatively late is now aspiring to a similar path.
King Edokpolo, a 24-year-old heavyweight, was recently seen alongside Dana White and Hunter Campbell during fight week in Las Vegas. Edokpolo, who has Nigerian and Japanese heritage and a background in baseball, currently boasts a 2-0 professional record in Japan`s Rizin promotion. This towering up-and-comer shares a head coach with Pereira, Plinio Cruz, who highlighted Edokpolo`s potential during a September appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show.
“He’s only been training for two years, but he’s a phenom,” Cruz stated. “When I first went there, I brought Alex with me. We trained, and the kid is incredibly talented. I returned about a month ago, and I’m now his official head coach. He is extremely promising. The UFC has already expressed interest, but he’s currently under contract with Rizin, so he’s potentially set to become a major heavyweight star in the UFC someday.”
When asked about training with Edokpolo, Pereira`s response was simply “Grande,” meaning “big.”
Rizin`s Role in Shaping UFC`s Recent Star Acquisitions
As Plinio Cruz noted, King Edokpolo remains signed with the Japanese promotion Rizin. However, recent discussions between Rizin and the UFC suggest that a future move for the 24-year-old to the Octagon is a strong possibility. In January 2024, reports indicated that Rizin president Nobuyuki Sakakibara intended to meet with the UFC to discuss two of his promotion’s top talents making the transition. Soon after, Kai Asakura was signed and immediately placed into a UFC title fight, while Kyoji Horiguchi is scheduled to return to the Octagon next month.
