More news continues to trickle out about exactly what was wrong with Alex Pereira during his first fight with Magomed Ankalaev.
Pereira and Ankalaev initially clashed at UFC 313, with the Russian fighter
taking a grinding decision that saw him shut down the dangerous Brazilian striker with an aggressive clinch game and sharp striking on the exits. “Poatan” would later claim he was at 40% of his potential in that fight, but refused to elaborate.
After Pereira took the rematch at UFC 320 with a one-sided 1:20 TKO, we’re starting to learn more. In a new interview with Laerte Viana, Fighting Nerds standout Mauricio Ruffy shed some light on the first fight.
“Alex didn’t [say it], but now that everything’s over, I can say it,” Ruffy said. “He was fighting with a cracked shin in the first fight. His shin was so injured, he could barely walk. He lost, but he still went out there and fought. Then he came out in the rematch and showed his level.”
Joe Rogan also expounded on rumors that Pereira was sick coming into UFC 313 during the latest episode of his podcast.
“He was sick,” Rogan confirmed. “The first fight he was sick. He was 100% sick. He was sick as a dog the entire camp. His coach told me after the fight, ‘Let me tell you something. First camp, he was so sick, bro. He was so sick. Like, he could barely eat.'”
“I think it’s norovirus. He also f–ked up his hand. He had a really badly hurt left hand in that fight. That’s the money maker. And then when you see [UFC 320], that’s what you get when you get a fully in shape and healthy Alex. You get stomped.”
For those keeping score, that means Pereira fought the first Ankalaev fight with a bum leg, a bum hand, and sick as a dog. Considering all that, it’s a miracle he made it five rounds with Ankalaev at UFC 313, let alone made their bout a competitive fight.
