Following his vengeful knockout victory over Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320, Alex Pereira revealed a particular regret regarding an opportunity he missed before the fight concluded.
Having previously lost to the Russian via decision earlier in the year, Pereira reclaimed the undisputed light heavyweight championship with an impressive 80-second knockout. Magomed Ankalaev, grappling with a significant injury prior to the rematch, struggled to perform effectively against the formidable Sao Paulo fighter, who overwhelmed the Russian with a powerful finish. Nevertheless, Pereira expressed regret that he couldn`t employ a controversial move to further humble the reigning champion before the fight was stopped.
Alex Pereira Intended to Slap Magomed Ankalaev Before UFC 320 Stoppage
Back in his home country of Brazil this week for Charles Oliveira`s main event bout against Mateusz Gamrot at UFC Rio, Pereira also revisited a location that Ankalaev had previously ridiculed. Reflecting on his decisive knockout triumph, Pereira stated he was unaware of Ankalaev`s injury claims but felt the fight was stopped prematurely, preventing him from delivering a “Sao Paulo Slap,” a homage to the iconic Nate Diaz.
“I connected with a solid punch before the elbows, and he (Magomed Ankalaev) was holding onto my legs,” Pereira explained to media members, including MMA Fighting, at a UFC Rio Q&A session. “An opening appeared, and my elbow struck cleanly. After my initial elbow landed and I saw blood, I continued striking, and the referee (Herb Dean) intervened. However, I believe the fight could have continued slightly longer, as I had planned to slap him and wasn`t able to.”
Alex Pereira Advised Against Hasty Heavyweight Transition
Eager to compete at next summer`s high-profile UFC White House event, Pereira already has a particular opponent in mind. While he aims to lure former heavyweight champion Jon Jones out of retirement for a major showdown, a UFC commentator suggests Pereira still has unaddressed challenges at light heavyweight and advised him to face another contender first.
