Alex Pereira revealed that he took no joy in watching rival Jamahal Hill suffer a defeat at UFC 311 PPV in Inglewood. The American light heavyweight star fought former UFC 205-pound champ Jiri Prochazka in what was easily a title eliminator. However, Hill lost that bid, but that doesn’t mean the stoic and stuffed “Poatan” will revel in it.
Pereira was cageside for the UFC 311 PPV event. He even took a dig at both his former opponents, claiming he was watching his “kids” fight. He and Jamahal Hill also got into an altercation at the UFC Performance Institute not too long ago. With the volume of banter, he has an easy avenue to hit back. But while attending his sister’s Karate Combat 52 media event, Pereira refused to give in to it.
I have absolutely no problem with him, …We’re both the same. Sometimes I’ll go and make some fun before the fight. Or he will… But tomorrow we’re going to hold hands and respect each other. I think all the turmoil that was created is part of the sport.
Alex Pereira to MMAJunkie’s Danny Segura at Karate Combat 52 Pre-fight media availability
Jamahal Hill (12-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) has had friction with Alex Pereira since his first-round KO defeat last April. After the UFC 300 loss, Hill bizarrely said the champ illegally banked on a referee pause to close space and knock him out. He thus had lofty aspirations for a rematch.
However, Prochazka halted it via third-round TKO at the UFC 311 PPV event. This makes Hill go down the pecking order and might need to put on a winning-streak before getting another title shot. Pereira does not want to give in to the pettiness just because the rival goes to the drawing board.
Jamahal Hill has been vocal about his desire for a rematch with Pereira. The current champion will return for his fourth title defense at UFC 313 PPV, Live from T-Mobile Arena, on March 8 vs. Magomed Ankalaev. The UFC light heavyweight champion also said this is another opponent he readily asked for.
Alex Pereira says he asked for ‘ordinary guy’ Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 PPV title defense
UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira said he has never shied away from Magomed Ankalaev. The Russian fighter (20-1-1 MMA, 11-1-1 UFC) has been lobbying hard for a fight with Pereira. However, the No. 1 seed for the UFC 205-pound gold thought the champ passed up on him.
Brave and bold Alex Pereira ‘asked’ for his next ordinary challenge (Source: X)He was convinced that “Poatan” was avoiding him. Pereira said he asked to fight Ankalaev in March after defending his title three times in six months in 2024.
I did say that I wanted to take a break, but I started training again. I started feeling good, …So I called my managers right away and I said, ‘I want to fight. I want to fight in March. I want to fight Ankalaev.’ I know he keeps saying that I’m a just an employee of the UFC, I fight whenever they want, but I asked for him. I told them when I want to fight.
Alex Pereira to ESPN’S Megan Olivi, backstage at UFC 311 PPV
The champion clarified that Ankalaev is just as dangerous as any other opponent; no less, no more. To his point, Khalil Rountree gave him his stiffest test and lasted through almost all of it at UFC 307. Ankalaev has opened up as a slight favorite on the money line. But, Pereira has opened up on lower odds before; the results are well known.
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