Alex Pereira took over the UFC 303 main event and delivered one of the biggest PPV events in UFC history. While everybody mocked Conor McGregor, the original main event, for pulling out due to a toe injury, ‘Poatan’ had something else to say. ‘The Notorious’ acknowledged this with a recent tweet.
UFC 303 was supposed to be one of the biggest events of 2024. This was because UFC star Conor McGregor highly anticipated return. However, McGregor pulled out at the last minute because he injured his toe during training. While stars like Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria mocked McGregor for backing out due to a toe injury, Alex Pereira defended the UFC star. Conor McGregor acknowledged this with a recent tweet on X.
Real recognise real. Excited to secure my new date.
Conor McGregor on X
A reporter previously asked Alex Pereira for his opinion on Conor McGregor pulling out of UFC 303 due to a toe injury. ‘Poatan’ replied that he could not judge whether McGregor should fight or not. He said that the UFC star has already secured his career and his legacy. Meanwhile, he is still on that journey so had to fight. Pereira speculated that if he were in McGregor’s position, he would have done the same.
Poatan reflected on his own toe injury which he incurred before the fight. He highlighted how risky it was and how he broke the other one in the fight. Ultimately, the new UFC superstar supported McGregor’s decision to let his injuries heal before he stepped into the octagon. However, ‘The Notorious’ was not the only fighter he extended his warm regards to.
Alex Pereira welcomes fighter who gave his first MMA loss
Alex Pereira had a successful career in kickboxing. He later transitioned to MMA, aiming to replicate his kickboxing achievements in his new venture. However, MMA fighter Quemuel Ottoni was the first fighter to give ‘Poatan’ a reality check.
Quemuel Ottoni submits Alex Pereira at Jungle Fight 82 back in 2015 (Image via X)Pereira made his MMA debut back in 2015. He fought Ottoni at Jungle Fight 82 and lost via submission in the third round. Although beating what now is one of the biggest names in MMA, Ottoni himself struggled to have a spectacular career. Now, he has a chance to fight under the UFC banner and Alex Pereira wished him luck at the UFC 303 post-fight press conference.
Ah man, I wish him good. I hope he can achieve a lot, if he achieves as much as I did, is going to make him special and good. So I want him to achieve that too, good luck to him.
Alex Pereira at the UFC 303 post-fight press conference
Ottoni’s last fight was at Jungle Fight 107 back in 2022. The Brazilian attempted to debut in the PFL multiple times. However, each time the fight fell through. Now Ottoni will compete in Dana White’s Contender Series this summer. Although a rematch between the two former opponents is unlikely, it will be interesting to see how the fighter who once beat Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereira performs in the UFC.
!
