Alex Pereira considered withdrawing from UFC 313 fight with Magomed Ankalaev, but ‘I don’t regret it’

UFC commentator Joe Rogan recently mentioned on his podcast that Alex Pereira “fought with a broken hand and norovirus” in his UFC 313 title defense versus Magomed Ankalaev earlier this month, but that’s not entirely true.

Although “Poatan” confirmed he wasn’t 100 percent going into that event, the Brazilian star said on The Ariel Helwani Show on Wednesday that his hands were fine.

“Like I always say, I don’t like to give excuses or take the merit away from the opponent even if I disagree with the decision,” Pereira said in Portuguese. “Everybody has their issues. I had mine, and maybe he had his problems too, but what I can say is that my hand was fine. But many things happened.”

Pereira wouldn’t reveal what exactly happened in the lead up to his first loss as a light heavyweight, but said he will probably discuss it publicly in the future. However, “Poatan” did say it was severe enough to have him consider withdraw from the fight.

“That was one of the most complicated fights with everything that happened,” Pereira said. “I don’t [regret fighting]. I’ve conquered everything I have and have motivated many people, and I tried something that was hard for me. I’ve done similar things before with difficulties of injuries and things like that and it has worked before, and this time it didn’t, but I don’t regret it.”

Pereira said he rewatched the UFC 313 main event and scored it 48-47 in his favor, winning rounds 1, 3, and 5, and wants his rematch.

“It’s obvious that I want a rematch with him, and I won’t take any other fight,” Pereira said. “I think I have this right for all the work I’ve done, but we still haven’t talked to the organization.”

Ankalaev recently mentioned on social media that August is the potential date for a rematch, indicating he already agreed to an offer made by the UFC. Although “Poatan” said he wasn’t officially offered anything so far, he likes that plan.

“I’ll be ready,” Pereira said. “If it’s August, it’s a good date.”

“I can’t wait for that moment, and it’ll definitely be a different fight,” he added. “If I knock him out, OK, but I feel that I have what it takes to do everything I want with this guy.”