Outside Source
In the main event of UFC 320 in October, Magomed Ankalaev (20-1-1) will put his newly acquired light heavyweight strap on the line in a rematch with Alex Pereira (12-3). Additionally, “Poatan” was cast as the lead villain in the upcoming film “Onslaught.” In the A24 film that currently does not have a release date on the books, he will serve as a character named “The Butcher,” where he was hand-picked by director Adam Wingard to fill that role.
Fans and pundits are concerned that double-booking himself and drifting towards acting performances will remove some of his focus and leave him vulnerable. The 38-year-old training out of Teixeira MMA & Fitness is not concerned, however, as he has a schedule that he is still adhere to now.
Commenters on his social media posts largely reflect worry that Pereira should be exclusively preparing for his second title fight with Ankalaev. One asked, “[Filming] has to be during the training camp for the most important fight of his life?” Another wrote, “It’s going to be a test for the heart, ‘Poatan’ vs. Ankalaev on a Saturday and Charles [Oliveira] vs. [Rafael] Fiziev the next.”
Don’t Worry About It, Suggests Pereira
Pereira spoke to UFC Fight Pass Brazil during the UFC 319 broadcast on Saturday, addressing some of these concerns directly. As usual, “Poatan” was calm, cool and collected.
“Everything is as expected, as planned,” Pereira reassured. “I see a lot of people criticizing…Actually more the haters, people who don’t understand. Not the fans, I love my fans, they’re always supporting me. Actually, there are seven weeks left. If you look at my training camp since I joined the UFC, it’s been six weeks [each]. I never stop training; I just intensify it six weeks before the fight. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do now.”
To clear the air, the former champ explained that the filming process for “Onslaught” in Argentina and Uruguay did not even take up a whole week.
“It was three days…three good days [of filming],” he said. “You wear your body out, but it’s not a break that leaves you exhausted. I feel good. It’s part of it, it’s great for me. My camps are six weeks long.”
Produced by A24 Studios, Lyrical Media and Ryder Picture Company, “Onslaught” is directed by Wingard, the director of “Godzilla vs. Kong.” Classified as an action thriller with horror elements, the plot follows a mother played by Adria Arjona who must protect her children after the emergence of a threat that escaped from a secret military base. Arjona shares the lead role with “Poatan,” and other cast members include Dan Stevens as a currently unnamed scientist and Michael Biehn in an undisclosed role. Fellow fighter Maurice Greene is also set to act in the picture, while Reginald VelJohnson of “Die Hard” and “Family Matters” fame will be making a rare cinematic appearance as well.
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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