Alex Pereira was losing the UFC 281 main event three rounds to one going into the final round. His coach, Glover Teixeira, gave him a frank pep talk, informing Pereira that he needed a finish to earn the win. That’s exactly what “Poatan” did, managing to finish Israel Adesanya on the feet, earning himself the UFC middleweight title in the process. Pereira discussed the corner advice at the post-fight press conference.
“I knew it was going to be a very hard fight. I tried to pace myself, but going into the last round, my corners and Glover kept it real with me. I looked at him and said, ‘Do I have to knock him out?’ And Glover said, ‘You do have to knock him out.’ And then I said, ‘OK, let’s do it.’”
The Final Round Pep Talk that Made Pereira a Champion
Pereira faced adversity repeatedly throughout the fight, including a moment at the end of the first round where Israel Adesanya visibly rocked him. Pereira admitted that the heavy hit in that first round hurt him, but made him sharper for the remainder of the fight.
“It hurt me a lot. I’m not going to lie. But with that said, I think it helped me stay sharper, stay with it, and then I started to put more pressure, and also make him work more, which I think I was able to get him a little more tired, too.”
Now with the UFC middleweight title to his name, Pereira discussed how it felt to be king of the 185-pound division so early in his MMA career.
“A lot of emotions went through my head. So many years of hard work and dedication, and here I am, champion of the world.”
Adesanya claimed that referee Dan Miragliotta stopped the fight too early, but “Poatan” argued that “The Last Stylebender” was more or less out on his feet.
“People can say whatever, but Izzy was taking some pretty heavy hits. The referee is there for a reason, to keep you safe. So I think it was absolutely correct.
Maybe they also tricked his mind, to the point where he had to be more aware of things, and I knocked him out in the last round.”
While an immediate rematch for Adesanya and Pereira seems to be the most likely next move for the UFC middleweight division, there are plenty of elite middleweights who might argue for a chance of their own. Whoever his next opponent is, “Poatan” isn’t worried.
“It doesn’t matter to me. They choose who I’m going to fight, and if that’s the fight they’re going to do, I’m going to be ready.
