Battle of the Coaches: Pereira's Trainer Cruz Lands New Misfits Opponent

Fight week in London has taken an unexpected turn. Chase DeMoor has been forced to withdraw from his scheduled Misfits Boxing bout against Plinio Cruz — the trainer of UFC star Alex Pereira — after suffering an eye injury in training.

Rather than scrap the fight, Misfits have gone with the most theatrical option available: DeMoor's own coach, Gary Olive, will step into the ring to face Cruz on Saturday night at the Copper Box Arena, in what the promotion has quickly dubbed a "battle of the coaches."

"When an opportunity comes knocking, I'll answer that door," Olive wrote on Instagram. "I'm forever grateful to Chase DeMoor for putting me in these positions because without him none of this is possible."

The card is headlined by Joey Essex against Daniel "Dapper Laughs" O'Reilly, but the coaching grudge match may yet steal the show. A trainer versus trainer clash carries its own unique needle — both men know exactly how the other side prepares. On Saturday, they'll find out how they fight.