Alex Pereira didn’t hold back this week, openly criticizing Magomed Ankalaev for what he claims was a deliberate attempt to avoid him at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas. The Brazilian star is preparing for a high-stakes light heavyweight title rematch at UFC 320, after losing their first fight by unanimous decision at UFC 313 in March.
Pereira Slams Ankalaev at UFC PI in Awkward Encounter
According to Pereira, he nearly came face-to-face with Ankalaev at the UFC PI, only for the champion to allegedly hide in a room, seemingly to avoid any interaction. The incident, Pereira said, is not just a funny anecdote—it’s a clear display of what he considers a cowardly attitude unbecoming of a champion.
“Something funny happened just now when I was leaving the PI,” Pereira said. “I saw Ankalaev’s coach there. I stayed to myself, I didn’t see Ankalaev there. And the funny thing is, when I left the PI, when I got into my car, someone from my team was still inside and he heard the girl from the PI say to Ankalaev, ‘He can come now, he’s already left.’ Like damn, he was hiding. They hid the guy in a little room man. The guy thinks I’m going to run into him and start fighting. Do I look stupid, bro?”
This awkward avoidance comes just weeks before the Oct. 4 showdown at T-Mobile Arena, where both fighters will put everything on the line. Pereira sees the incident as a mental edge, asserting that it exposes Ankalaev’s true character outside the Octagon.
“He’s a Chump”
Pereira’s reaction to the incident was explosive:
“This guy talks nonsense. I hadn’t even seen (his posts on X), for real. Honestly I would’ve handled it way better. But the fact that the guy hides in a room because I’m in the same place as him. He’s a chump. He’s a chump. I’ll keep to myself, you know? I’ll never pick a fight with the guy, never start something. Of course, unless he comes at me. I have to defend myself too. But what kind of champion is that man? A sht champion. I know that’s harsh, but he’s a shtty champion, man. A guy like that. And you know why? Not because of what he says, but hiding in a room today. He’s shown he’s a coward man. We’ll see. Hiding now. We’ll be in the cage, locked in there. Unless he jumps the fence. He’s a sh*tty champion, this guy.” via MMAJunkie
Pereira’s Weight Cut Ahead of UFC 320
The awkward encounter at the UFC PI is just part of Pereira’s preparation for UFC 320. Alongside the mental battle, he is also facing a grueling weight cut, having recently weighed 234 pounds (106.2kg) and needing to drop 29 pounds to make the 205-pound light heavyweight limit.
With the fight less than two weeks away, the tension has escalated both inside and outside the cage. Pereira must balance the intense weight cut with preparing to reclaim the title, while Ankalaev will look to defend both his belt and his reputation.
After the awkward UFC PI incident, the rematch promises not just a physical battle, but a psychological one as well. Come October 4, there will be no hiding—just two fighters, a championship, and a score to settle.
