After a lacklust pay per view event that saw Alex Pereira be dethroned as the light heavyweight champ UFC commentator Joe Rogan made a heck of statement.
Rogan said that Pereira was fighting with an injured hand and was battling a “norovirus” (he had a cold).
“I’m not trying to take credit away from Ankalaev,” Pereira said on “The Ariel Helwani Show” through an interpreter. “Many people try to do that kind of thing, and I’m not this type of guy. Everybody goes through problems, and I’m sure he had his own problems, too. I had mine. My hand is fine, but it did affect things. But I don’t want to use that as an excuse. I don’t want to make excuses. I don’t want to use this as leverage for anything.
“My moment is going to come to win the belt, and then I can disclose everything for you guys. Yes, (I considered not fighting at UFC 313). It was one of the more complicated (fight camps) from everything that happened. I don’t regret it because I’ve conquered a lot, I’ve motivated a lot of people and anytime I’ve pushed through things, I was able to overcome. Many times it worked, but this time it wasn’t my moment.”
The revelations seem to be driving to why there is going to be an immediate rematch between Pereira and Ankalaev.
Alex Pereira shares that he contemplated not fighting at UFC 313:
“My hand is fine, but it did affect a lot of things… I don’t wanna make excuses… I don’t wanna use this as leverage for anything. This was one of the more complicated fight camps that has ever happened… But… pic.twitter.com/2Njlu4tuHy
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) March 26, 2025
Pereira also responded to allegations that he greased.
“I absolutely didn’t put anything on my body. For me, that’s him trying to make an excuse to justify the fact that he trained a guy to take me down, but the guy got stuffed for 12 of his takedown attempts,” he said. “You didn’t do what you’re supposed to do, and now you’re trying to make excuses to justify that.”
Alex Pereira responds to greasing allegations:
“I absolutely didn’t put anything on my body. For me, that’s him trying to make an excuse to justify the fact that he trained a guy to take me down, but the guy got stuffed for 12 of his takedown attempts. You didn’t do what you’re… pic.twitter.com/X44Yww0vyT
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) March 26, 2025
