The former champ says he wasn’t close to full strength in their first clash
Fighters often talk about competing through adversity, but rarely is the number attached so precise. At UFC 313, one of the division’s biggest stars admitted that he entered the bout far from full strength. Suggesting that his condition was closer to 40% than 100%, he framed his title loss as a performance shaped as much by circumstance as by skill. For fans, the revelation raises the question: what happens if he’s closer to full power the second time around?
Alex Pereira confirmed in a recent interview with Brian Campbell that he was well below his best when he fought Magomed Ankalaev. Reflecting on his condition, he admitted: ‘Honestly, I was about 40% on that fight on that night. I’m actually even surprised that I was able to fight like that with everything that was going on.’ While he avoided specifics, reports around UFC 313 pointed to illness and a lingering injury as part of what hampered him that night. Joe Rogan specifically claimed the Brazilian entered the bout dealing with both a broken hand and a case of norovirus, though Pereira has yet to fully confirm those details. What is certain is that even at ‘40%,’ he stuffed all 12 takedown attempts from the Russian challenger.
Since then, the rivalry has only grown. After UFC 313, Ankalaev accused Pereira of being ‘greasy’ during their first fight, suggesting he may have used a slippery substance on his skin to make grappling exchanges more difficult. Recently, Pereira took a jab by saying Ankalaev ‘had to hide’ from him at the UFC Performance Institute. In a separate response, he brushed off the greasing accusations, insisting he proved that Ankalaev wasn’t as dominant on the ground as many believed. ‘Even if I’m only 50%, that 10% is gonna make such a great difference,’ he said.
The rematch at UFC 320 on October 4 offers the chance to settle the debate. If Pereira was truly compromised at UFC 313, then his return at full health could reshape the light heavyweight picture. But if Ankalaev wins again, the conversation around excuses and percentages will be over for good. Fans will finally see whether the margin was as thin as Pereira suggests, or whether Ankalaev has already exposed the limits of his rival’s game.