Alex Pereira’s UFC 320 triumph came with a hidden cost: a significant injury. While many celebrate his swift knockout victory, there’s more to the story than just reclaiming the light heavyweight title. But here’s where it gets controversial—Pereira revealed he suffered a foot fracture during the fight, which might delay his return to the octagon, leaving fans wondering how long the recovery will take.
The night in Las Vegas was undeniably memorable for Pereira, who ended the night as champion by knocking out Magomed Ankalaev in just 80 seconds. This win was especially sweet, as it avenged Pereira’s earlier defeat at UFC 313 in March and returned the championship belt back to his collection. However, during a Q&A session in Rio de Janeiro before UFC Rio, Pereira shared some news that could impact his career timeline. After medical scans, including an X-ray in Vegas and an MRI back home, doctors discovered a fracture in his foot. While the full recovery path remains uncertain, Pereira expressed his intention to focus on the upcoming UFC White House event, showing a clear target despite the injury.
The UFC White House event, tentatively planned for June 14, has generated a lot of excitement, especially since it was announced by then-President Donald Trump. Although UFC CEO Dana White has yet to confirm the date, the fight card promises intriguing possibilities for Pereira. If ready by then, potential matchups range from a hard-hitting legends fight against Jon Jones to a daring move up to heavyweight to challenge champion Tom Aspinall. When asked about facing Jones, Pereira remained non-committal, emphasizing that his main focus is the next fight, whoever that may be.
Pereira’s history with injuries adds another layer to this narrative. After his first defeat to Ankalaev, rumors suggested he fought through a virus and a broken hand, though Pereira himself never confirmed those exact details. He did admit that he struggled with some form of physical issues around UFC 313, which may have affected his performance. On the flip side, Ankalaev’s camp revealed that their fighter had suffered a broken rib before the rematch, a detail Pereira says he was unaware of and believes the rib injury worsened during their intense second fight.
When reflecting on the fight, Pereira dismissed any suggestion that injuries defined the outcome. "You can’t make excuses," he said, pointing out that many were quick to undermine his success by focusing on whatever reasons could diminish his achievement. He recalled how he specifically targeted Ankalaev’s body, landing decisive downward elbows after a clean punch, which led to the referee stopping the fight in the first round. Pereira shared that delivering those strikes gave him a rush like no other—training hard for moments like that and seizing every opportunity to perform at his best.
Interestingly, Pereira joked about the fight ending sooner than he wished, mentioning he had planned to "slap his face" but didn’t get the chance as the referee intervened. This adds a playful yet fierce highlight to what was otherwise a dominant performance.
This revelation opens a compelling debate: Should a fighter’s injury status influence how we perceive their victories? And how much do behind-the-scenes struggles shape the real story of a championship fight? Pereira’s openness invites fans and analysts alike to dive deeper into these questions. What do you think—does an injury cast doubt on a fighter’s win, or does overcoming such adversity make their accomplishment even more impressive? Share your thoughts below and join the conversation.
Report contribution by Guilherme Cruz.
