Alex Pereira wasn’t at full health in his gentle heavyweight title defeat to Magomed Ankalaev earlier this month, in response to UFC commentator and podcaster Joe Rogan.
Pereira surrendered his 205-pound world title in a unanimous resolution loss to the Russian gentle heavyweight in what was simply his second UFC defeat since getting into the organisation in November 2021. The loss dropped at an finish a run of 5 successive wins, with the final 4 of these finishes in world title fights.
However in what was a considerably muted efficiency by his requirements, Pereira was largely unable to impose himself towards the wily Ankalaev who discovered success in stifling the Brazilian on the ft.
And in response to Rogan, two components performed into Pereira’s under-par efficiency.
“They are saying he fought with a damaged hand and norovirus towards Ankalaev,” Rogan mentioned throughout a latest episode of his podcast, as reported by MMA Fighting.
“He fought with a damaged toe earlier than,” he added. “When he beat Jiri Prochazka, he had a f*cked up knee. Bear in mind when he went and he tumbled on the finish of the combat, that’s as a result of his knee wouldn’t help him. He was principally combating on one leg within the first combat. Then he will get surgical procedure, I suppose it’s in all probability meniscus, as a result of he got here again fairly fast.”
Pereira, it have to be famous, has made no point out of sickness or damage within the wake of his loss towards Ankalaev. Norovirus is usually generally known as the ‘winter vomiting bug’ and causes vomiting, diarrhoea and basic abdomen discomfort.
Regardless of reporting the hearsay, Rogan additionally said that Ankalaev’s efficiency in his win over Pereira needs to be counseled.
“Ankalaev and Pereira, second spherical [Pereira] will get rocked after which he’s form of not the identical after that,” he mentioned. “Rather more defensive after that. I noticed a very good breakdown of Ankalaev’s standup towards Pereira, it was very excessive degree. Particularly taking away the entrance hand, he’s doing this round movement together with his hand and taking away angles.”
