Alex Pereira’s coach Plinio Cruz announces return to fighting: ‘Daddy’s back!’

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 29: Alex Pereira of Brazil poses for a portrait after his victory with former MMA fighter Plinio Cruz during the UFC 303 event at T-Mobile Arena on June 29, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Todd Lussier/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) | Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

You probably know Plinio Cruz as two-division champion Alex Pereira’s coach, translator, and best friend. But before being attached at the hip to “Poatan,” Cruz was also an MMA fighter … and could return to fight again by the fall.

“Big Daddy” Cruz fought from 2008 to 2019, earning an 8-9 record with stints in Bellator, M-1 Global, and Cage Fury. Just like Pereira, he started his career at middleweight and made his way up to heavyweight over the years, even competing a few times at super heavyweight. Now he’s considering coming back to competition at the ripe age of 40.

“I turned 40 and I started to lose weight here, chilling,” Cruz said in a video from Alex Pereira’s YouTube channel. “I started training and ‘Poatan’ started talking to me about fighting again. So I said the offer has to be good for me to put my cigar on the table and sign the contract. Then there came a good offer that we’re negotiating with Misfits. So most likely I’ll be fighting for the Misfits belt at the end of the American summer, which would be between August and September.”

“So I’ll get ‘Poatan’ ready, I will help make him a champion, then it’s dad’s turn, right? Stay tuned, Daddy’s back.”

Alex Pereira is set to fight Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title at the UFC’s big White House card on June 14th in what could be a historic night for the Brazilians. No fighter has ever held UFC belts in three different divisions. Even if it’s an interim, it is still a massive accomplishment for Pereira and Cruz.