Former UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has revealed he fought at only “40 percent” in his title loss to Magomed Ankalaev earlier this year.
Idman.biz reports that Pereira, who surrendered his belt at UFC 313 in March after a five-round unanimous decision defeat, admitted he faced physical issues during the bout, though he did not disclose specifics.
Pereira (12-3) is set for a rematch against Ankalaev (21-1-1) at UFC 320 on October 4 in Las Vegas. Speaking to CBS Sports, Pereira stated, “Even if I'm 50 percent in the rematch, that 10 percent will make such a difference. I’m going to leave no doubt for everybody.”
Known for competing through injuries, Pereira previously fought with a broken toe in high-profile UFC events. The Brazilian, a former two-weight kickboxing and MMA champion, has over 50 professional appearances.
Tensions between Pereira and Ankalaev have escalated in the build-up to UFC 320, with public confrontations at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas. Ankalaev won their first encounter decisively on all three judges’ scorecards, setting the stage for a highly anticipated rematch.
