From rivals to teammates: Yousri Belgaroui’s words on Alex Pereira say it all

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.

How does Belgaroui compare to ‘Poatan’?

Belgaroui stands at 6ft 5in and brings a relentless striking style shaped by his elite kickboxing career. It is a similar style to Pereira, who is slightly shorter at 6ft 4in.

However, ‘Poatan’ relies more on devastating kicks and concussive punching power, while Belgaroui often mixes in knees, as seen in his finish last Saturday.

Both fighters share a composed presence inside the cage, rarely showing urgency even during exchanges.

That calm approach now defines a partnership rather than a rivalry.