Alex Pereira got here out on high in his newest title protection, however his journey to UFC 307 might have been reduce brief on plenty of events.
Following his thrilling predominant occasion win over Khalil Rountree Jr. on Saturday in Salt Lake Metropolis, the reigning mild heavyweight champion revealed to reporters his preparation for the battle was laden with maladies and misfortune.
“The battle was actually powerful, however solely my workforce actually is aware of how powerful this camp was,” Pereira stated on the night’s post-fight press convention. “I went via a variety of stuff that no one actually is aware of about. I used to be Brazil over a month in the past, I had some issues with my visa, I used to be going over to the consulate each single day making an attempt to see if my passport was able to be picked up. Lastly made it again to the U.S., spent a few week in Connecticut, been right here for 3 weeks, in that meantime I used to be on antibiotics. I had a fever, I had a foul throat, and a variety of issues occurred.
“Additionally, going again, after I was in Brazil I damage my rib. It was an damage that I had a few 12 months in the past and it got here again, in order that was additionally one thing that I used to be coping with. Then after I got here right here, my throat was nonetheless unhealthy. I went to the physician, had one other spherical of antibiotics. I even recorded a video-at the time, I stated within the video I’d present it if I received, so we will put that out at some point-but I went via lots. Additionally, the ligament in my toe that was damage from UFC 300, that got here again. There’s a variety of issues that I went via on this camp. It was a troublesome battle, but it surely was a troublesome lead-up to this battle, and I really really feel actually happy with myself at this second.”
Accidents piling up for Pereira may be anticipated given his hectic 2024 marketing campaign. UFC 307 marked Pereira’s third title protection of the 12 months and his fourth championship battle since November 2023. “Poatan” has turn into considered one of MMA’s hottest figures each as a consequence of his spectacular performances and the frequency with which he delivers them.
However don’t suppose for a second he needs to make it a behavior of overcoming adversity.
“I’d truthfully fairly not undergo what I went via as a result of the physique suffers,” Pereira stated. “You endure bodily, however the thoughts is actually what suffers in these circumstances, so I’d fairly not must undergo that.”
It’s Pereira’s opponents that sometimes take the brunt of the injury when he steps into the cage, although Rountree was hardly a punching bag. Often known as the “Glory Killer” for scoring wins over Glory Kickboxing veterans Gokhan Saki, Karl Roberson, and Dustin Jacoby, Rountree threatened to dwell as much as his nickname at a number of factors in Saturday’s battle as he traded heavy strikes with Pereira.
In the long run, Pereira’s famed ending capability shined and he beat Rountree down with a barrage of strikes in Spherical 4. He then acknowledged his intentions to remain at mild heavyweight fairly than chase a title in one other division, which might set him as much as face the winner of the upcoming UFC 308 contest between high contenders Magomed Ankalaev and Aleksandar Rakic.
Simply don’t anticipate Pereira to hop again into the cage so quickly once more as even he has to confess his degree of exercise has turn into tough to handle.
“For certain, it’s lots,” Pereira stated. “I feel that there’s a restrict. I need to push myself as a lot as I can. I’m 37 and I need to benefit from time, however I do must take a break. I’ve some commitments in Mexico and Korea and Malta … I must take a while off, however I’m going to be coaching.”