Alex Pereira may have knocked out Sean Strickland in devastating fashion at UFC 276, but the two have since forged an unlikely bond—and now, "Poatan" is firmly in Strickland's corner for the biggest fight of his career.

When Strickland (30-7) steps into the Octagon to challenge Khamzat Chimaev (15-0) for the middleweight title in the UFC 328 main event on May 9 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, he'll have a former champion—and former foe—in his corner. Pereira, who now serves as Strickland's cornerman, has been helping him prepare for the undefeated Chimaev's relentless wrestling pressure.

"Before our fight, I saw him differently," Pereira admitted in a UFC 328 Countdown video. "But once he stepped into the Octagon, you could see it on his face, he was a different guy. He is a warrior."

The Brazilian revealed that their training partnership began after their 2022 clash, and he's come to respect Strickland's craft immensely. "I learned a lot from those sessions; he's got a lot of experience. He knows his craft. He's always moving forward, firing that jab. That's a great weapon he has."

Pereira, who went on to win the middleweight title against Israel Adesanya before losing it in an immediate rematch, sees a clear path to victory for his friend. "Everyone knows that I'm rooting for Sean Strickland. He's got to stay composed, keep pressing forward, stay alert, watch out for the takedowns, and use his jab and front kick."

The 38-year-old "Poatan" has since moved up to light heavyweight, claiming the title and defending it three times within a year. He's now set to challenge Ciryl Gane at heavyweight on June 14 at the White House, effectively closing the door on any potential rematch with Strickland. But for now, all his focus is on helping his former opponent—and current friend—pull off the upset against the undefeated Chimaev.

"I'm really excited and motivated for this fight, and I hope he gets the win," Pereira said. With one of the sport's most feared strikers in his corner, Strickland will have every tool he needs to silence the doubters.