Conor McGregor struggling a damaged toe throughout the last weeks of his coaching camp pressured a dramatic shift within the UFC 303 important occasion with mild heavyweight champion Alex Pereira stepping up on quick discover to avoid wasting the day in a rematch in opposition to Jiri Prochazka.
After all it was properly documented that Pereira truly suffered a damaged toe of his personal previous to his earlier struggle at UFC 300 however he remained on the historic card and finally knocked out Jamahal Hill within the first spherical. Barely two months later, Pereira fights once more — this time with solely a few weeks to organize to defend his belt — however the eight struggle UFC veteran didn’t hesitate to just accept when the promotion got here calling.
So how does he really feel about McGregor dropping out of a struggle with the identical damage that he fought by at UFC 300?
“You possibly can by no means choose individuals’s ache,” Pereira mentioned about McGregor throughout UFC 303 media day. “Completely different situations, completely different conditions.”
The best way Pereira sees it, he’s nonetheless obtained a whole lot of work to do earlier than he’s even near McGregor’s degree of wealth and monetary safety. That type of cushion the place McGregor technically by no means has to struggle one other day in his life permits him to take a seat out when he’s not at full well being.
Pereira doesn’t really feel like he has that very same choice proper now however maybe his option to compete at UFC 300 would have been completely different with a whole lot of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} sitting in his checking account.
“He made his identify. He made his cash. He made his life,” Pereira mentioned. “I’m type of midway there. So I fought with the damaged toe on account of my scenario however perhaps if I used to be in his scenario, I’d not have fought. So I can’t choose.”
As for his readiness forward of UFC 303, Pereira refused to make any excuses a lot much less clarify any potential shortcomings he confronted after accepting a five-round title struggle with lower than two weeks to organize.
“I really feel excellent proper now, no matter quick discover or not,” Pereira mentioned. “I’m very joyful to be right here.”
Whereas he absolutely expects to win and defend his title on Saturday, Pereira is aware of from private expertise that nothing is assured in the case of fight sports activities.
Even when he’s acknowledged as some of the deadly strikers within the historical past of kickboxing or MMA, Pereira’s additionally been knocked out prior to now so he is aware of he might do every part proper at UFC 303 and nonetheless stroll out with a loss on his file.
That’s in all probability the identical angle Prochazka had after he misplaced to Pereira this previous November within the struggle that price him the UFC mild heavyweight title.
As a result of he absolutely understands the unpredictability that comes together with combating, Pereira believes he’s going to win emphatically but when the worst ought to occur and he loses, “Poatan” has each confidence he’ll see Prochakza once more in a trilogy.
“Nothing by the group [telling me I get an immediate rematch] however I feel if Jiri wins on Saturday, I feel it makes extra sense for a straight rematch,” Pereira mentioned. “You could have a whole lot of guys in line however I feel by way of making a struggle, I feel that makes extra sense.”
If Pereira wins at UFC 303, he eliminates arguably one of many largest threats to his belt as a result of he would then maintain two wins over Prochazka. It’s an extremely uncommon event when anybody will get a 3rd chunk on the apple after a pair of losses.
Assuming the evening goes how he desires, Pereira is aware of there are going to be loads of choices accessible to him together with a possible showdown with one-time title challenger Anthony Smith, who additionally competes at UFC 303 on Saturday amid a rising rivalry between the 2 of them.
For now, Pereira guarantees none of that issues however whether or not it’s Smith, Magomed Ankalaev or any individual else, the terrifying Brazilian expects to be ready for them.
“I’ll struggle anyone,” Pereira mentioned. “I’m not the one who chooses however I’ll be prepared similar to I used to be for this struggle.”
