Alex Pereira doesn’t speak English — and that’s just how coach Plinio Cruz likes it.

Part of Pereira’s appeal is the stone-faced “mystique” that keeps people guessing. It might be harder to package “Poatan” as a silent assassin if he’s cracking jokes and clowning around with combat sports reporters during media day.

Or making “wholesome” pre-fight videos.

“I knew he was able to achieve great things, but over time we knew he was able to conquer anything,” Cruz told Yahoo! Sports. “Like Glover has said, he’s the full package, and I think even the fact that people criticize the no English thing — I don’t want him to speak English! I think the way he keeps that stone face creates a whole mystique around him that people like, and now with his sarcasm behind the jokes … because he doesn’t speak English, I think people can just relate to him as a simple guy.”

And simple guys tend to put family first.

Pereira will defend his light heavyweight title against No. 1-ranked contender, Magomed Ankalaev, atop the UFC 313 pay-per-view (PPV) event on Sat. night (March 8, 2025) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Like “Poatan,” Ankalaev doesn’t speak a lick of English.

How do you spell “dud” in Russian?

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 313 fight card right RIGHT HERE, starting with the early ESPN+ “Prelims” matches at 6 p.m. ET, followed by the remaining undercard balance on ESPNN/ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET, before the UFC 313 PPV main card start time at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN+ PPV.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC 313: “Pereira vs. Ankalaev” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here. For the updated and finalized UFC 313 fight card and PPV lineup click here.

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