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VIDEO: Alex Pereira’s UFC Coach Plinio Cruz Wins Boxing Debut

Plinio Cruz, a former MMA fighter and longtime coach for UFC star Alex Pereira, made his professional boxing debut with a dominant second-round TKO victory over Gary Olive at the Misfits Boxing event in London. The 40-year-old Cruz, who compiled an 8-9 record in his MMA career before retiring in 2019, delivered his first knockout in professional combat sports—ending a streak where only one of his eight MMA wins had come via stoppage.

His transition to boxing marks a shift in focus as he prepares to help Pereira, who currently holds UFC titles in both middleweight and light heavyweight, gear up for his upcoming heavyweight bout against Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335. Pereira, who lost his heavyweight debut to Ciryl Gane amid controversy over referee Herb Dean’s calls, now faces Pavlovich in a fight that could solidify his standing as the top contender in the division.

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