Coach Plinio Cruz Reveals Alex Pereira Got $303K Bonus After UFC 303 | The MMA Hour

Plinio Cruz, the coach for Alex Pereira, discuses Pereira’s performance in the UFC 303 main event, when he first met Pereira and why Pereira took that LFA fight, his toes, sparring Tai Tuivasa, dancing before the fight, the face-off before the fight, the first round, what Pereira should do next, the possible move to heavyweight, and more.
Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @mmafightingonsbn
Subscribe to MMA Fighting on KZbin: goo.gl/dYpsgH
Subscribe to The MMA Hour on iTunes: Apple.co/themmahour
Subscribe to The MMA Hour on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/0NUQhyU...
Subscribe to MMA Fighting feed on iTunes: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Check out our full video catalog: goo.gl/u8VvLi
Visit our playlists: goo.gl/eFhsvM
Like MMAF on Facebook: goo.gl/uhdg7Z
Follow on Twitter: goo.gl/nOATUI
Read More: www.mmafighting.com
MMA Fighting is your home for exclusive interviews, live shows, and more for one of the world's fastest-growing sports. Get latest news and more here: www.mmafighting.com

[@shotgunshelz7987]

Damn straight Alex gets a 300K bonus, that's just making up for 300. Dude deserves a 3 millions bonus, took 300 short notice, took Connors spot short notice. Alex is the face of the UFC.

[@jaypatel7426]

He deserves every penny of the ppv, that card was a disaster without him

[@megacatsupreme466]

CHAMA 🗿🗿🗿

[@jayguiles9434]

I agree. It’s crazy how fast things can change. Alex’s activity has to be respected.

[@cwatson42785]

Believe me he got paided extremely well over his Normal base pay for stepping in and saving the card

[@chrisgutierrez8136]

​@@cwatson42785Since you want me to believe you, how much did he get paid? Seems like you know exactly how much he got paid

[@jasonszeto7790]

this coach is madd fckin smart .

[@bfat387]

The phat phuc in the video?

[@thetruthseeker8142]

@@bfat387pilinio would knock u out cold

[@tristan583]

@@bfat387stay in ya basement 🤡 he has a life and you’re watching

[@GDN_Dan]

@@bfat387he was a heavyweight fighter bro

[@dyfox3856]

​@@GDN_Dan he ate a heavyweight fighter. +5000 odds he lives past 40

[@PAWGmoth]

“His life is just bbq, and hang with the boys” 😂😂😂😂

[@ralph9245]

very simple life...family, friends and training

[@polfachini6489]

God bless him..he's not going back to drinking.

[@kanethesevenfootmonster868]

​@@polfachini6489Real.......🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@birdperson2854]

Hanging with the boiiyz🎉

[@realityosei3689]

that's awesome life that's how is should be

[@KiddNextDoor]

"I know the monster that me and Glover created..." damn, feels like from a horror movie. 💀

[@We_Are_Connected]

Time stamp?

[@jonasjorgensen8759]

Smart move by Alex to talk about the 303 k bonus in the post fight speech

[@jayn6943]

Yeah. It put UFC on the spot for not giving him a bonus when he accepted the 300 on short notice

[@apocolypse11]

Now thats a dangerous man in the ring n business.

[@SailorxD]

@@apocolypse11 Exactly, now he knows his value, back then he needed UFC and thats it, now they both need eachother

[@JurgenFlop]

Why didn’t he get the bonus for 300?

[@jonasjorgensen8759]

@@JurgenFlop they gave it to max and Jiri, and ufc is cheap AF.

[@asain79able]

I was an adesanya fan but I hated how he behaved towards Alex after beating him. Now I’m a forever fan of Alex.

[@kamounleashed]

You and me both Chama 🔥🗿💪🏾

[@Rell-m4x]

Alex did the same thing 💀

[@sammorris7802]

@@Rell-m4xexplain ? That’s complete lies

[@sammorris7802]

@@Rell-m4xthere’s literally a clip of him saying how he’s made so many people sad after beating his opponent now it’s his turn and said how he told the same to his father back in the day , Izzy made excuses all day long

[@therealvontetv3117]

@@sammorris7802you conveniently missed the mocking of adesanya by Alex.

[@ethantownzen9432]

Coach Plinio Cruz is my favorite coach now 😂. The bank robbery analysis got me good.

[@Bill_Dippertly]

He's a cool dude

[@ethantownzen9432]

10:23

[@gabrielegagliardi3956]

A Brazilian with a latin name sounds so strange, super cool but still strange

[@Bill_Dippertly]

@@gabrielegagliardi3956 The rest off the world which is like 7.5 mil dont notice

[@ozzyiommi8011]

@@gabrielegagliardi3956 Brazil has the largest number of Italian descendants in the world, This country is so diverse and even more so than the United States

[@whyuseahandle]

9:10 were you nervous? No, I knew the monster me and Glover created. Plinio saying it as it is 🔥🔥🔥

[@saket6660]

But they were nervous,they had a sigh of relief when he finished jiri

[@giacalonebuilding4443]

That they “created” gtfoh. They taught him some wrestling and grappling defense (maybe, to be determined still).

[@CovertBandit0]

Hard quote lmao

[@ralph9245]

@@giacalonebuilding4443 Plinio is with him since his glory times lol he made in a double champ in glory and with Glover helping then he managed to be successful in MMA

[@CovertBandit0]

@@ralph9245 if they didn’t teach him takedown defense Jan would be champ so 🤫

[@HowstheMoraahle]

Not only is Plinio such a smart coach, looks after his fighters, high IQ everything. More than that he is such a cool dude. Glad he is also getting his recognition. Man deserves it

[@freddymars2014]

Hill punching air when he heard Alex got 303K bonus 😂

[@teacopem]

why

[@GuiPb]

@@teacopem because hill is a hater and bitter all week.

[@addictedtosuccess156]

Hills counting 10k in his car calling his haters broke

[@timw4432]

Hill sucks so bad

[@LP3me]

⁠@@timw4432I wouldn’t say “he sucks,” he’s a decent fighter. He only has 2 losses in his career and one was because of injury. He just needs a little more training and humble himself a little.

[@kamounleashed]

I don't care what anyone says, after this interview, I'm a die hard Alex Poatan Periera fan and and a fan of his team 1000000%, nothing will change my mind bro🔥🗿 CHAMA 💪🏾🙏🏾

[@rafaelyokoyama]

Chama 🔥💪

[@Ntsakolloydmawila]

Chama🙏🏌️

[@bethanyhaskiell9116]

Alex has an amazing coach and team behind him

[@fergarcia8809]

This fight was better than conor vs chandler could be. 💪🏼

[@fg5392]

that's why people love so much these camp. Pereira fights anybody anytime, no bs. Just straight killer

[@Damelza]

That’s funny ortega mentioned it but didn’t even get a chance to get it😂

[@zurdov4191]

Gotta thank MMA junkie for that fr. This his second time trynna change the pay for fighters

[@MedroffYT]

​@@zurdov4191 lol sure 😂

[@jayn6943]

The one useful thing he did that week

[@RicardoASoldierOfGod]

This man is not only a great coach, but an awesome friend. You can tell Plinio and everyone around Alex are all super humble. Congrats and much love to y’all💪🏽

[@gamebred1910]

Plinio deserves all the recognition in the world, he is a world class coach, and a classy fella! They really created a monster

[@joelrodriguez7550]

Alex was about to steal the main event from Adesanya in Perth

[@drunkpaulocosta]

Would have been so funny

[@jayn6943]

I thought the same thing

[@KeinProblem-uv5jh]

Izzy needs to man up and fight alex if he wins against ddp But at 205

[@diogo88387]

​@KeinProblem-uv5jh without the dehydration, Alex would kill izzy even faster than he did with hill and Jiri

[@timw4432]

Plinio, Glover and Poatan are the holy trilogy of MMA in 2024

[@SunFlowerBabyyy]

DUDE!!! That shirt he is wearing is so dope!!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@CeBme]

Get you 1 sunflower

[@ycfuxo8046]

Is he Mexican?

[@pedroernesto5283]

@@ycfuxo8046 Nope. He`s Brazilian.

[@coldasfire7948]

This guy is the reason jiri got kicked on the head😢

[@jayn6943]

Jiri is the reason Jiri was kicked in the head

[@coldasfire7948]

@@jayn6943 true Alex just keeps getting better

[@Joshstix95]

Jiri is just not on Alex level. All the spiritual stuff needs to go 😂 he needs to focus

[@DarkDragonSlayerAQW]

Mcgregor is the reason.. my boy Jiri paid for his mistakes, so it is only fair for chandler to make him pay eventually

[@Iyengar7]

@@DarkDragonSlayerAQW😂😂😂

[@jackreacher2095]

Anyone who doesn't know Plinio was a fighter and held a belt in a different organization

[@giacalonebuilding4443]

What organization? He is 8-9 all time record and never won more than 2 fights in a row

[@thestandardbarber1708]

CFFC heavyweight champion @@giacalonebuilding4443

[@BarakaUglyyAhh]

@@giacalonebuilding4443he held the Gravyweight belt in the KFC

[@alandemaio3043]

Well in football or soccer the best coaches were bad players, it’s the same about him

[@BigRonBetsVegas]

Pilinio’s analogy of robbing a bank made Ariel uncomfortable. Hahaha.

[@ahmedhamm5464]

its cause his people own the banks 😅

[@Andress550]

The wise man to the chama tribal chief

[@HashBandicoot356]

ACKNOWLEDGE him.

[@cwatson42785]

How can you not love not only Alex but his team behind him as well. Plinio and Glover are great people and I'm glad Poatan has them in his corner looking out for him. I've been a fan of him for years and i couldn't be happier that he's finding huge money and fame in the ufc and has been embraced by the fans.

[@yan1914]

Honestly Ariel is the best combat sports journalist, no one ask as much as details like him, great 👍

[@williamdebault2524]

Anik better

[@yan1914]

@@williamdebault2524 Anik is a commentator and Ariel is a journalist who interview people

[@drunkpaulocosta]

​@@williamdebault2524 lol not even close. He's a company man bro Not one company man is in the top 10 journalists who cover the sport

[@fbellaann]

Yes, he is a real journalist, must are just KZbinrs

[@KeithThaStallionAllen]

Alex is also a great person, doesn't even drink, just loves his boys! He deserves all the good coming his way! What a great role model in these twisted times!

[@gamebred1910]

'Conquer each battle so you can conquer the war'!

[@jonlobov1249]

EVERYONE NEEDS A RIGHT HAND MAN LIKE PINYO

[@shanes3135]

Adasanya in a bar saying I beat that guy once

[@raymondchan318]

How the tides have turned hahaha

[@cwatson42785]

This man has a push mower behind him. You can tell he's a real man who will do his own lawn!

[@user-sk9sp7pe4y]

I Think it's poatans house 😂

[@cwatson42785]

@user-sk9sp7pe4y Lol...I think it's his house. They all got houses in CT near the gym. It's his house

[@jayn6943]

Okay?

[@pedroernesto5283]

Alex Poatan Pereira`s youtube channel is 🔥Watching the backstage before the fight was awesome. Him winning the fight was just the icing on the cake.

[@williamsantiago166]

This Coach is the Mind behind Alex offense and defense 🤙🏽🥊

[@giacalonebuilding4443]

Considering he has a career 8-9 record I don’t think so. Glover I’m sure taught Alex some wrestling and grappling defense (maybe, to be determined still considering Jan rag dolled him and hasn’t faced a wrestler since) and I highly doubt they taught him anything in the striking with him being top 8 or so kickboxer ever

[@SemiBlackful]

@@giacalonebuilding4443 Guardiola or Mourinho were not big famous players to became one of the biggest coaches of all times. If u watched the whole video. Plinio said coaching alex is more like guiding him to express his potential and helping with training and creating strategies, he couldn't teach or correct him. Plinio has a masterclass game iq, same as glover and alex. Being around a bunch of smart guys, talking about fight, sharing ideas and strats, opponent weakness, to build Alex's best version. Not saying he is the best mma coach rn, but your point doesnt make sense.

[@CalmOCE]

And? There are many great mma coaches who were once fighters that didn't do to well. For example, Tim Welch who is Sean omalleys coach.​@giacalonebuilding4443

[@WanSheTong]

@@giacalonebuilding4443 You think every coach in every Sports was world class athlete at some point? Greatest coaches in every sport were mediocre at best athletes.

[@ernestofamorim]

​ @WanSheTong Theres also a lot of good athletes that doen't the hability to be good coachs. Take someone as Xavi for example, one of the best midfielders of all time, but mediocre coach. I'm not saying that is a bad coach, but very far of being a good one, regardlles of his player credentials.

[@Knightbot]

Alex made his debut in November. Won his first belt in November. Won his second belt in November. Give him aspinall or blades in November for his third belt.

[@Youafool500]

That interim belt will go as soon as Jones gets back

[@Knightbot]

@Youafool500 I think the interim belt will go but the champ will be promoted to undisputed champ because jones will retire. Which means they can still fight for the belt. Keep the title moving because whoever holds it will become the undisputed champ. And I realise this is unlikely to happen. But I don't think jones will fight again after stipe

[@Dan-iy2nr]

i honestly think alex has made more in these 2 years than most ufc champs have even made lol. Its crazy how hes done so much in the sport. i think it would be epic him trying to go for heavyweight... because with that shaman magic on his side anything can be done

[@okikssss]

What an interview!!

[@boldottoman]

Yes it is!

[@trevorramballe2826]

Plinio needs more credit for everything he does.

[@MarcelloForTheWin]

Give this man all the money in the world, if theres anyone on the roster who deserves it its him

[@AliaSpeakman-p6n]

Dude the bank robbery analogy was 🔥

[@raymondperales1085]

Potan bigger than Mc Gregor now 🗿

[@shootermcgavin6610]

Hahah no!

[@gregoryjones8440]

He’s the biggest active 🌟 but he’s not past mcgregor let’s be for real now

[@raymondperales1085]

@@gregoryjones8440 He fought when mcgregor was supposed to and with one more broken toe than mcgegor what you think about that? 🗿Chama

[@raymondperales1085]

@@gregoryjones8440 I love mcgregor just as much as anyone also 🤝🏾🫶🏾

[@Marcelo.divaio]

For the real MMA fans yes absolutely, but for the casual MMA adicts no, CHAMA 🔥

[@pitviper23]

That’s a funny rob a bank analogy considering some fighter histories…

[@teacopem]

how so?

[@wrxzboost]

he deserves every penny of that bonus.

[@ldsiverling]

Deserves more. Hopefully got a cut of the PPVs. Alex keeps saving UFC cards.

[@DeseanStrickland12307]

He obviously gets ppv points he’s a defending champ

[@Shiggystardust]

@@DeseanStrickland12307not always. Usually u have to defend 3 times but given he’s the biggest active star atm there’s a good chance

[@JrE-il7cf]

​@@ShiggystardustThe Champs always get a ppv cut.

[@Tommytwotimes345]

@@Shiggystardusthe definitely got a fat pay check for this and 300

[@OldTonyFerguson]

​@@Shiggystardust Never seen or heard anything about 3 times. Champs always get ppv points.

[@ryeguy4449]

Alex needs to buy Plinio a Harley

[@ColoradoForestBeings]

Makes me happy to see this success

[@_cohen]

LOVE PLINIO 🔥

[@Dp-jf4jo]

These are better than with poatan. His coach know what he would say for the most part and we don’t have to sit thru translation. This coach is dope keep having him on

[@frankcastle6745]

This guy is smart. I did not know he was a fighter, too!

[@okikssss]

What a team!! Chama!!!!

[@jonjones2]

What you came for 25:14

[@frostaren6336]

thanks

[@samsonihekweme]

Chama

[@aselfexplorer4627]

Thank you bro

[@annetteiles5724]

Alex deserved the bonus, he saved the card and showed out like a boss 🎉🎉🎉

[@dionzapata7959]

$303k bonus was probably a deal not made to be announced publicly

[@verrico7536]

Who cares

[@rickymapes4178]

Aye, the check cleared lol

[@JavierNYC423]

I’m sure the ufc is going to punish alex perriera or his coach 🤣

[@MrDaffysci]

Everyone knows the top dogs make way more than what is announced. He saved that card. He can do no wrong at this point 😂

[@JrE-il7cf]

​@@JavierNYC423no they won't

[@cjwilson2636]

He is such a beautiful Souled man..

[@josiericaro3347]

We need plinio back to learn more about him. This was all about poatan. Rightfully so. But id love to learn more about plinio himself He reminds me very much of tim Welch.

[@nicoatencio4861]

ESPN needs to give Ariel his credits

[@TheDOUBJT22]

Plinio is the man! Great guy!. Clicked to play this interview in a heartbeat when i saw it. Great work Ariel 👏🏽

[@brycedurjava7232]

Great interview!!

[@hamzamir15]

16 Million gate and he gets a bonus of 303K is criminal he deserves at least 5 million

[@steve833333]

303k is just the bonus though not his contracted pay. My guess he probably made 2-3 mill if you combine his base pay +bonus + ppv points.

[@hamzamir15]

@@steve833333 he should be earning 20 million and 5 million should be the bonus. 16 million gate

[@ssj4goku18825theepic]

@@steve833333honestly I hope he atleast made 5 mil as a base pay alone for saving the card and maybe 7 mil in total dude deserves it

[@itsweva1933]

he seems like such a fun person to hang out with

[@Riotz171]

Everybody need a homie like Coach Plinio 💯👏

[@ryanstinson726]

imagine an active heavyweight champion 🗿

[@sagormeskovic6921]

Great questions as always, thank you Ariel 🙏 we got so much insight from this

[@lichtschluusseln3528]

Let's not waste time on Ankalaev who barely survived Blachowicz. No one wants Ankalaev ballssniffing and headbutting Pereira stalling the whole 25 minutes trying luck for a choke. Pereira vs goat Jones chama!!!

[@risottonero4501]

You rather see Jones spam takedowns and Alex getting submitted in 4 minutes

[@jonahmarsee1200]

Dude is 1 win away from accomplishing the greatest feat ever in the UFC 🐐 🐐

[@theironforce3000]

This is a great interview. Good to hear the coach talk in length without Alex hanging by his side. Lesson to all fighters out - Never post warm up / training clips online minutes before stepping into the octagon. That was a bad bad move from Jiri's camp.

[@viniciusdeobber8239]

Grande Plinio! More success awaits Poatan and his team 🔥

[@horton368]

Happy for poatan and his crew!

[@anasshahid224]

Great well deserved bonus for Alex Pereira. He truly stepped up on short notice to save the UFC 303 event. 👏👏👏👏

[@FriscoFatseas]

You guys are doing magical things, i like all yall style too, very inspiring

[@CriticalSh0tGaming]

Awesome coach good humour, clever and looks after his people yous deserve the spotlight

[@charliebrownwest7566]

My son met them in Australia.. very humble team.. vamos team Pereira

[@raymondchan318]

At the highest level, even the smallest glimpse during warm up will be the key to victory. Hats off to Coach Plinio🔥

[@Confessingjesuschrist]

After this interview, this wouod be the coach I want to train with if I planned a move. What a beautiful personality.

[@martinjames6148]

Alex and his team, they just get it. Total clarity

[@Aila_h]

We need a solo interview session with Plinio!!! A look into this man’s life would be epic 🔥

[@arcanewondersfann1567]

Pereira is how Volkanovski imagined himself in he's mind

[@alcottdevalte7440]

Steven Seagal, Glover and Plinio have made Alex level up big time. I can't see him lose anytime soon and I hope he keeps on making history. Plinio is hilarious and fun to watch as well with his personality and translation for Alex. Chama🎉🎉🎉

[@fourteendayssss]

steven seagal 💀🗣️

[@562XXXXX]

Seagal???? 💀💀

[@StealthTRD]

Bro said steven segal..hope hes being funny

[@wut3358]

​@@StealthTRDWhere do you think he learned the death punch?

[@StealthTRD]

@@wut3358 dang i didnt even think about that 😬

[@rodrigorezende5841]

Great interview coach Plinio, you guys surely created a monster and are making Brazil great again.

[@Synthetic-lt4ed]

Plus he is an excellent interpreter

[@maganjaseventy7900]

The new face of UFC 🗿

[@floodwaters8887]

If Alex manages to beat Magomed Ankalaev thats the Top 5 beat.. that will be remarkable.. at that stage the bottom 10 start getting a crack and the bottom 10 is weak.. letting him KO Anthony Smith would be good fun.

[@kgb9440]

Anthony beats him on paper with his bjj and vet status.

[@yourwakeupcall510]

"Conquer each battle so we can conquer the world" Like true warriors

[@JS-xx9pt]

Best interview in awhile

[@dustinkilburn]

Fkn love this dude. Alex really lucky to have him and Glover in his life

[@cameron03100]

1 blackjack hand to Dana - great for Alex; but these 50k bonus clearly not affected by inflation as they been constant for how long!!!

[@sinnceer_era]

🙏🏾✌🏾🐜Chama, Coach Cruz🙏🏾✌🏾🐜

[@aleksandartasic1824]

solid dude

[@supersaiyansalamence]

Alex is in good hands. Chama! 🔥

[@StevelyBruckShut]

Love this guy, I'm a fan now. He and Alex are a match made in heaven. Love his candor and he and Ariel have a good chemistry. Great interview

[@joecoreano]

Alex is more popular then Izzy now a days

[@IsenathiDyantyi]

thank You very very much Coach for saving that next! Periera 🇧🇷 vs 🇷🇺 Ankalaev

[@joshuz101]

I love Brazilian Hagrid

[@Ladiesman217-.]

If Alex gets another fight at the end of the year and kos Magomed Plinio and Alex are definitely getting fighter and coach of the year

[@aarongrant4379]

Great coach

[@jlu602]

Great interview

[@gabriel8088]

Great Stuff Ariel. Plinio is a smart coach.

[@mozambiq00]

People don't realize Plinio's part in all this. This guy is a game changer

[@Valpremier]

Glad for him !!!!!

[@karloszabo7524]

Great guys! Best team in MMA. La Maffia Familia. Chama 🔥🔥🔥

[@timw4432]

As an Aussie, I apologise for the Shoey. It's fuggin disgusting and embarrassing