The "introverted sweetheart" with "scary" knockout power who is "ahead of his time" - how Alex Pereira became must-watch in the UFC.
Plinio Cruz narrows his eyes and looks directly into the camera when he is asked what makes Alex Pereira different from other fighters.
Cruz is Pereira's long-time coach, who has been by his side for the majority of his remarkable career.
He slowly raises his finger and points at his head before answering.
"I'm not comparing him, I'm not being cocky, but this is an example. Isaac Newton years ago had ideas that the church didn't understand because he was ahead of his time," Cruz tells BBC Sport.
"When I first started working with Alex around 2017 he used to tell me things that only now are starting to click in my brain.
"I was coaching him without really understanding the meaning behind things, because of how far ahead he sees the game.
"Now I'm able to coach him much better because we have that connection. But a connection with an average fighter takes months - with him it took years."
When Brazil's Pereira joined the UFC in 2021, he arrived as a two-division world champion in kickboxing promotion Glory.
In just under four years since his UFC debut, he has repeated that feat, winning the middleweight and light-heavyweight belts and growing into one of the promotion's biggest stars.
The 38-year-old's aura was dimmed slightly when he lost the light-heavyweight title to Russia's Magomed Ankalaev in March - but he has a shot at redemption.
At UFC 320 in Las Vegas on Saturday, Pereira could reclaim that belt when he faces 33-year-old Ankalaev in a rematch.
The magnitude of Pereira's achievements in the UFC in such a short space of time before defeat by Ankalaev are unheard of.
It took him 736 days after his debut to become a two-division champion - the shortest span in UFC history.
Of his nine wins in the organisation, seven have been by knockout, highlighting Pereira's extraordinary striking ability.
Cruz remembers the first time he felt Pereira's power during a sparring session.
"Just the way he was jabbing, just the way he was touching, it was shaking my brain," says Cruz.
"His touch is like many guys' hardest punch. He is really strong, it's scary."
Pereira's nickname 'Poatan' derives from the language of one of Brazil's indigenous tribes - and is a nod to his fearsome power and flawless technique.
"Poatan means stone hands. Like a stone for example is something strong, that's why I tattooed it on my hands - hands of stone," Pereira tells BBC Sport.
"It means a lot to me because of the indigenous culture, my ancestors, my grandparents - it means a lot to me to represent this indigenous background.
"Those people fought a lot to preserve their culture. They fought for what they believe, and for me this is the same way I do in fighting."
'An introvert but a sweetheart'
Pereira grew up in a poor family in Brazil before securing one of his first jobs working in a tyre shop.
It was there, influenced by his co-workers, that he developed an alcohol problem before turning to kickboxing in an effort to rid himself of addiction.
"When I started training back then I couldn't visualise success, I couldn't even visualise [making a] living from fighting," said Pereira.
Cruz says it has been an "honour" to watch how the "humble" Pereira has grown over the years.
In the UFC, Pereira has developed an intimidating reputation, where his stone-faced, emotionless stare-downs have sometimes affected opponents before they even set foot inside the octagon.
Pereira pays homage to his tribal ancestors, wearing face paint and a headdress during face-offs, while Jiri Prochazka once accused him of using "rituals, magic and shamans" to win fights.
Cruz describes Pereira as an "introvert" but a "sweetheart".
"In our inner circle he's much more loose. Yes he is quiet but if he opens up he is a sweetheart," says Cruz.
"He jokes around and everything but it takes time for him to open up to people."
Pereira defended his title three times last year, headlining the landmark UFC 300 event.
His star power derives from his collection of highlight-reel knockouts, but there is also a charm to Pereira, who has used his platform as one of the UFC's biggest fighters to connect with fans on social media through dancing and meet-and-greets.
"Alex not only delivers on the fighting, he's a likeable person. He's a superstar but he doesn't have that superstar vibe which people cannot reach," said Cruz.
"Because of his humble beginnings I think people can relate to him - and that means everything."
When Pereira defeated Prochazka for the light-heavyweight belt in 2023, he became the ninth fighter to become a two-division champion.
The seven UFC fights it took him to achieve the feat is also a record.
For Cruz, Pereira's status among the all-time MMA greats is already cemented, whether he regains his title from Ankalaev or not.
"Tell me someone who's conquered two Glory belts and two UFC belts. For me he's one of the best combat sports athletes that has ever happened because of these achievements," said Cruz.
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