From rivals to teammates: Yousri Belgaroui’s words on Alex Pereira say it all
Yousri Belgaroui did more than win last Saturday night, he made a statement about what his UFC career could be. The towering middleweight stopped Mansur Abdul-Malik with authority, using sharp striking and a clinical finish that underlined his pedigree.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC Yousri Belgaroui did more than win last Saturday night, he made a statement about what his UFC career could be. The towering middleweight stopped Mansur Abdul-Malik with authority, using sharp striking and a clinical finish that underlined his pedigree. It was another reminder of his elite kickboxing roots.
That background includes a fierce trilogy with Alex Pereira in GLORY. Yet time has reshaped that rivalry. The pair became training partners ahead of Pereira’s first UFC clash with Israel Adesanya, ending any lingering tension between them.
Belgaroui’s latest gesture made that evolution unmistakable. Yousri Belgaroui’s message to Alex Pereira says everything Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC Belgaroui made his respect clear immediately after the win, with Pereira present in his corner throughout the fight. He said: “My next very tough challenge is gonna be sparring this m——— [Pereira] at heavyweight and then, as I get fit doing that, I’d like to fight as soon as possible.
Give it up to that guy! ” The comment reflected a bond built over years since their GLORY trilogy, where Belgaroui first beat Pereira before the Brazilian secured two wins to settle the rivalry. Five years younger than the Brazilian star, the 33-year-old could be the one to inherit his legacy in the near future.