Conor McGregor expressed his admiration for UFC light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. The Irish fighter was all set to make his long-awaited return to the octagon at UFC 303 after a three-year hiatus. However, fate had other plans, as McGregor was forced to withdraw due to a broken toe.
Stepping in on short notice, Alex Pereira took the main event spot against Jiri Prochazka. Despite criticism for competing with broken toes, Pereira defended his decision, emphasizing that McGregor’s situation was different. He acknowledged that McGregor had already achieved significant milestones in his career, while he himself was still halfway there.
In response, McGregor tweeted, “Real recognize real. Excited to secure my new date.” The mutual respect between the fighters is evident, and fans are eagerly awaiting McGregor’s next return to the octagon.
Real recognise real. Excited to secure my new date. pic.twitter.com/nKmGZ9QfRT
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 2, 2024
Alex Pereira’s UFC Journey
Alex Pereira initially made waves in the UFC Middleweight division. His striking prowess and knockout power caught everyone’s attention. Notably, he faced Israel Adesanya twice. In their first encounter at UFC 281, Pereira secured a stunning KO victory with a flurry of punches in the second round. Their rematch at UFC 287 saw Adesanya turn the tables, defeating Pereira via KO in the second round.
Alex Pereira moved up to the Light Heavyweight division, where he continued to impress. At UFC 276, he faced Sean Strickland and secured a first-round KO victory with powerful punches.
His clash with Bruno Silva at UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Ankalaev showcased his technical striking, earning him a unanimous decision win. Pereira’s crowning achievement came when he captured the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
He defended the title successfully against Jamahal Hill at UFC 300, knocking him out in the first round. In a thrilling rematch with Jiří Procházka at UFC 295, Pereira secured another KO victory, this time with vicious elbows in the second round.
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