Alex Pereira UFC 320 open workout media scrum | Talks Ankalaev rematch
UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira meets with the media ahead of his open workout for UFC 320 in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS – Alex Periera says there is one liar in the UFC 320 main event – and it isn’t him.
Following an opponent workout Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s event at T-Mobile Arena, Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) responded to Magomed Ankalaev recently calling him a liar after a recent confrontation between the two at the UFC Performance Institute. Pereira says Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) does not write his own social media posts.
“I don’t know why he’s saying that because that’s 100 percent what happened,” Pereira told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter. “That just goes to show you it’s not him writing online. It’s not coming from him. What happens is somebody else is somewhere else writing for him, and then he comes here and sees me. Maybe he thought I don’t want to face him right now, and I’m alone. But that’s 100 percent what happened.”
Pereira remained stoic (per usual) as he spoke to the media and shrugged off most of the questions pertaining to hard feelings between himself and the champion. He seemed more interested in fighting than insults, and theorized Ankalaev might be trying to engage in a war of words simply to promote the fight.
“I try to avoid conflicts with my opponents,” Pereira said. “I even try to be friendly with them afterward. You’ve seen this before. I’ve talked about training with past opponents. I don’t really know what it is. He used to say a lot, that I was running away from him, that I didn’t want to fight him. That’s never happened. We all know the UFC didn’t want to promote that fight. That’s never what it was. I have no problem with him. I always try to be friendly and avoid conflict.”
On Saturday, Pereira will have the opportunity to get one back over Ankalaev, who defeated him by unanimous decision in March. Pereira doesn’t think he was at 100 percent the first time out – and thinks he’ll prove that in the rematch.
“It’s a little frustrating to watch that, but I have watched it back,” Pereira said. “I think I’ve gained a lot of strength. I’m in a much better position now. I’ve prepared myself much better. It’s good to be able to go back and do it again.”
