Former coach believes ‘Poatan’ will be combat sports GOAT by claiming third UFC belt

"He followed everything I instructed and learned quickly. I remember that in the second training session with Eduardo Sobrero, he was still at a disadvantage, but in the third, I said, 'Today you can knock him out, but you won't. You'll respect him, dominate him, and show that you've learned. That's all.' And that's what he did. And that impressed me. He could have wanted to retaliate, but he insisted on respecting me and the veteran who sparred him. And that's the attitude of a champion. There I saw that he was within my philosophy, and I realized that there was something noble in him that comes from our ancestral warriors, who are the basis of my work," recalled Wera.

Pereira also began to take an interest in his heritage.

“He became curious and asked his mother if there were any indigenous people in the family, and his mother confirmed that his grandparents were indigenous. When he told me, we started working on that. After all, unfortunately, we've had great champions in many sports with indigenous features and origins, and none of them ever celebrated their origins. Perhaps due to the influence of cinema, you see ‘Vikings,’ [and] ‘Samurai,’ but we have great warriors of our roots. I always felt that this was something we lacked,” added Wera, who began using Tupinambá indigenous war rituals to cultivate a warrior spirit in Alex's training.

Based on the discoveries of his origins and taking into account the power of his cross, it was Wera who suggested the name Po (hand) Atan (Strong).

“I took him to sign a contract with his first sponsor, and the guy asked for a nickname, and I said ‘Poatan,’ which doesn't mean'hands of stone.' If it meant 'hands of stone,' it would be Po (hand) Ita (stone),” said Wera, revealing that he was also the one who suggested the song ITSARI by the group Sepultura, which Alex still uses in his fights today.

“The Xavante Indians participate in this song,” he said. “All those shouts and tones while he stomps his foot on the ground have a meaning. First, the tone of earth, the act of standing firm and the path to follow; then comes the tone of water, when you release your sorrows; and then the tone of fire and air.”

Wera recalls that reclaiming this ancestry was essential in Pereira’s transformation.

"Given his condition as an alcoholic with no prospects, it was pointless for me to just teach him jabs and straight punches. By reclaiming his ancestral roots, I managed to give him a strong mind, a warrior spirit, and a healthy, strong body,” Wera said.

In six years with Wera, Poatan became the Sao Paulo state champion, the Brazilian kickboxing champion, and the WGP champion, and began to be approached to fight in Glory. "They wanted him to spend some time training Dutch kickboxing, and I didn't allow it,” he said. “I believed they would take him there and remove the characteristics of Brazilian kickboxing. Instead, I took him to my brother's farm, and we spent a month there, training."

According to the coach, his partnership with “Poatan” ended after his first victories in Glory because of an offer from a sponsor.

“The situation he was in at my gym was very difficult. According to him, the other gym offered him better conditions. After everything I saw him go through and knowing the potential he had, I needed to understand his decision,” Wera acknowledged, revealing that the separation never erased the respect they have for each other. “When he beat Adesanya in the UFC, he visited our gym.”

Gane, Jones and Chimaev

Wera is fully convinced that his pupil will win his third belt in the UFC at the White House and even anticipates in which round the title will come.

"I think he should use the 'Guato' to maintain distance but without letting Gane try to suffocate him and at the right moment corner him using the 'Jawa'. I believe that if Alex is strategic he will win by knockout around the third or fourth round. This fight won't go to the fifth,” he said.

Asked if Pereira should be considered the GOAT of combat sports if he wins his third belt, the master does not hesitate.

“All kickboxing champions who went to MMA got beaten. Alex was the only one who won the belt in two categories of the biggest kickboxing promotion in the world and then did the same in the biggest MMA promotion. If he wins this third belt in UFC, something never done before, I think he must be considered the GOAT of combat sports,” Wera said.

Wera would even bet on his pupil had he been booked against Jon Jones.

“I think if this June fight was with Jon Jones, Alex might have more trouble, but he would also end up knocked out,” Wera said.

The only fighter against whom Wera doesn't show so much confidence is Khamzat Chimaev. The UFC middleweight champion already showed many times his desire to fight “Poatan” for light heavyweight title.

“That guy is tough. I see that he has a different attitude, they even call him ‘Wolf.’ He has a different look and usually finds the opponents' weaknesses. Against this ‘Wolf’ guy, Alex would have to prepare well,” Wera said.