Glover Teixeira learning from Alex Pereira’s ‘incredibly high fight IQ’ for Shogun Rua fight, expects Poatan to knock out Ciryl Gane

Glover Teixeira is drawing on the expertise of Alex Pereira as he prepares for his boxing debut against UFC Hall of Famer Mauricio "Shogun" Rua on August 29 at Spaten Fight Night 3 in São Paulo, Brazil. The 46-year-old former UFC light heavyweight champion has spent years coaching Pereira through his transition from professional kickboxing to mixed martial arts, and now plans to reverse the arrangement once Pereira concludes his title pursuit.

Teixeira stepped away from competition following UFC 283 in January 2023, when he lost a vacant light heavyweight title bout to Jamahal Hill. Rua, now 44, retired on the same card after a loss to Ihor Poteriia. The idea for Teixeira's boxing venture emerged during a dinner conversation in Rio de Janeiro earlier this year, and when Spaten Fight Night offered him a marquee bout with Rua, he felt the same excitement as when he made his original UFC debut.

In interviews with MMA Fighting, Teixeira praised Pereira's "incredibly high fight IQ" and striking vision, noting that even light training sessions with the former middleweight and light heavyweight champion have provided valuable lessons he plans to apply in the boxing ring. Pereira, who will defend his interim heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane at UFC White House later this month, embodies the kind of technical excellence Teixeira is studying. Both fighters are aiming for knockout victories in their respective bouts.

Teixeira believes his boxing—traditionally his method for closing distance in MMA—gives him an edge in a pure boxing format against Rua, whose striking prowess came from a diverse kickboxing background. By limiting the fight to boxing alone, Teixeira argues he neutralizes some of Rua's most dangerous weapons while maximizing his own strengths in pressure and hand combinations. The matchup fulfills a long-held ambition: Teixeira has wanted to face Rua since his early UFC career, inspired by watching both fighters compete in PRIDE. With three months to prepare, Teixeira expects Rua to train intensely and deliver a grueling battle befitting their legacies.