Alex Pereira is determined to reclaim his belt.
The former UFC light heavyweight champion’s dominant title reign came to an end at UFC 313 when he faced Magomed Ankalaev. Despite a unanimous decision loss, Pereira believes he did enough to win and is eager for a rematch.
During an interview on Uncrowned’s “The Ariel Helwani Show,” Pereira admitted it was not his best performance but still feels he won the first, third, and fifth rounds against Ankalaev. He showcased improved grappling skills by defending all 12 takedown attempts.
Although his striking output was lower than usual, Pereira remains proud of his evolution in the game. He refutes accusations of greasing and dismisses excuses for his loss.
Pereira’s run as a light heavyweight champion was marked by numerous title defenses in a short span, showcasing his determination and work ethic. Despite facing injuries and rumors, Pereira is focused on regaining his title without making excuses.
Reflecting on his career, Pereira remains motivated and proud of his accomplishments, with no regrets about his journey in MMA.
After a year, he rose to become a champion in a weight class higher, solidifying his remarkable legacy even further.
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The light heavyweight division lacks strong contenders, and Pereira’s impressive record justifies an immediate rematch with Ankalaev. All parties, including UFC CEO Dana White, have expressed interest in a rematch; now it’s just a matter of setting the location and date.
Ankalaev claimed on social media that he has already received an offer for a Pereira rematch in August. Pereira is currently taking a break but is ready to face Ankalaev next.
“I haven’t received an official offer yet, but August sounds good,” Pereira said. “Once the contract is in, I’m signing.”
“I don’t necessarily have to knock him out [in the rematch], but I believe I have the skills to dominate the fight,” Pereira added.
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As a veteran fighter approaching his forties, Pereira’s career in the UFC is still relatively young with only 15 MMA fights. However, he has a total of 40 kickboxing matches under his belt. The question remains – how much longer can he go?
Ultimately, Pereira is uncertain but hopes to continue competing for as long as possible.
“I’m not sure about fighting past 40. I would like to, but it’s uncertain,” he admitted.
“After my loss to Israel Adesanya, I had to reassess certain aspects of my life. I needed to improve in some areas and make changes. It’s the same process now. Reflect, improve, not just in training but in life overall.
“If it were up to me, I wouldn’t defend the belt after this [Ankalaev] fight [if I had won]. I would have moved to heavyweight or even ventured into boxing. It would have to be a significant fight, like a superfight or for a title. Those are still my goals.”