Alex Pereira Reveals: I Fought at 40% in the Fight Against Ankalaev
UFC ex-champion Alex Pereira has surprised fans by confessing that he competed at “40%” of his capacity in his previous fight against Magomed Ankalaev. This statement comes on the eve of his expected rematch at UFC 320, scheduled for October 4 in Las Vegas.The first time both fighters met was in March, at UFC 313, where Ankalaev took the victory by unanimous decision after five intense rounds. After that fight, speculations arose about Pereira’s physical condition, even a possible hand injury was mentioned.
One week away from the rematch, Pereira has confirmed that he wasn’t in his best shape during the first encounter.
At 38 years old, Pereira is known for his bravery and his ability to fight despite injuries. In April 2024, he agreed to headline UFC 300 against Jamahal Hill with little preparation time and a broken finger. Subsequently, he re-injured his finger in a title defense against Jiří Prochazka at UFC 303. Pereira, who represents Brazil, is a former two-division champion in kickboxing and MMA, with over 50 professional fights under his belt. The tension between Pereira and Ankalaev, 33, has been increasing in the last weeks leading up to the rematch. Both fighters faced each other this week at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas. Pereira accused Ankalaev of speaking ill of him online and then avoiding him in person. Ankalaev responded by stating that he has lost all respect for the former champion. In their first encounter, Ankalaev won on the scorecards of all three judges. Two judges gave him the victory in three of the five rounds, while the third awarded him four rounds against one for Pereira.“I think the condition I came to that fight with, honestly, was around 40%,” Pereira stated through an interpreter. “This time, I will be much better. Even if I am at 50% in the rematch, that 10% will make a big difference. I will leave no doubt for anyone”.
Alex Pereira
