Alex Pereira has received some criticism from the UFC fanbase for his title losing performance at UFC 313.
On Saturday at UFC 313, Alex Pereira‘s light heavyweight title reign came to a disappointing end when he was narrowly outpointed by longtime contender, Magomed Ankalaev.
The 32-year-old’s performance came as quite a surprise as a large majority of the UFC fanbase believed that the only way he could beat ‘Poatan’, was by utilising his wrestling and grappling.
Despite that, Ankalaev outstruck Pereira over five rounds, with Pereira alarmingly only landing 11 head strikes throughout the entire 25 minutes.
Jon Anik questions Alex Pereira’s mindset going into UFC 313
Immediately following UFC 313’s main event, Pereira’s ‘uncharacteristic’ performance was questioned by UFC commentator, Joe Rogan, after the Brazilian was beaten at his own game.
Not only that, but former UFC double champion, Henry Cejudo stated that he thinks Pereira’s lifestyle has caught up to him and that could be the main reason for his disappointing performance.
On the call for UFC 313 was UFC mainstay, Jon Anik, who has since spoken to Bloody Elbow in an exclusive interview and has questioned where Pereira’s mindset was coming into Saturday night’s fight.
“Sometimes it’s easier to look at it retrospectively, so now after the fact, even when I think about the way ‘Poatan’ was walking out, he didn’t necessarily have that look in his eye, he almost didn’t even seem as in sync with the music as he had been on normal walkouts,” Anik told Bloody Elbow.
“A lot of athletes since this fight have suggested that maybe he bit off more than he can chew in terms of the back-to-back-to-back championship training camps,” Anik continued.
Jon Anik reveals what Pereira must do to reclaim his UFC title
The Brazilian’s title loss went from bad to worse after he was targeted online by a viral video from his ex-girlfriend, celebrating his loss, which Pereira has since responded to.
Fortunately for the 37-year-old, immediately after the event, UFC boss, Dana White claimed that an immediate rematch will ‘probably’ happen.
And now only a few days removed from the event, Ankalaev has revealed that he is already in negotiations for the rematch.
With Pereira having vowed to make ‘some adjustments’ in the rematch, Anik has revealed what he thinks the former champion must do to reclaim his title.
“It’s fascinating because I host the press-conference sometimes and I look to my right and I look at the size of ‘Poatan’s’ left hand and I think, ‘Man, how does this man ever lose a fight in which he lands that left hook at all.’
“It’s simplistic to suggest that he just needs to be more aggressive and offer up more reckless abandonment, but he was backing up a lot, so I do think he has to stand his ground a little bit more.
“I don’t know that the second fight is going to look all that different, I think that Pereira just does need to stand his ground a little bit more and just be a little bit more of a headhunter,” Anik stated.