Glover Teixeira states that Poatan corrected a major 'weak point' in his career; understand why.

Alex Poatan celebrates title win alongside Glover Teixeira . Photo: Reproduction/Instagramover

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Alex Poatan , it seems, has already corrected one of his weaknesses, but this time outside the octagon. Since arriving in the UFC, the former light heavyweight champion (up to 93 kg) has frequently been criticized for not overcoming the language barrier with the American public, as he usually relies on a translator during his interviews. However, according to his main coach, Glover Teixeira , the Brazilian can communicate in English.

In an interview with Demetrious Johnson , Glover Teixeira revealed that Poatan has been learning English and can already communicate in the language. The coach explained that the Brazilian maintains frequent contact with his wife, who is American, and receives praise for his progress in the language. According to Glover, Poatan's preference for using translators is more related to insecurity than to a lack of knowledge.

“Yes, he’s learning English. He can speak it. My wife is American, and she talks to him. She’s like, ‘Wow, your English is so good.’ He just doesn’t like to talk most of the time. He’s usually with me, Plinio, or someone who speaks English better,” said Glover Teixeira.

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The former UFC champion also suggested that shyness might be one of the reasons Poatan avoids speaking English publicly. According to him, the Brazilian might feel uncomfortable hearing his own pronunciation and believe his accent isn't good enough, something Glover himself admitted to experiencing.

“Maybe he’s a little shy because he doesn’t speak very well. You hear yourself talking and you think, ‘Man, that’s awful.’ I feel the same way. If I hear myself talking, I’m like, ‘Man, I have the worst accent.’ When I’m talking, I don’t realize it. I think I sound like you guys. But when I listen to this podcast tomorrow, I’ll be like, ‘What the hell is this?’”, concluded the coach and former UFC champion.

What is Alex Poatan's next fight in the UFC?

After debuting in the heavyweight division (up to 120,2 kg) with a loss to Ciryl Gane , Poatan keeps alive his dream of winning his third UFC belt. The Brazilian has already made it clear that he intends to return to the octagon between November and December and is aiming for a rematch with the Frenchman. However, fans and experts point out that Josh Hokit or Sergei Pavlovich are the most likely opponents for the Brazilian.

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