The UFC light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira, shared a harrowing experience from his past during an appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani. He recounted the chilling moment when he knocked out his opponent, Thomas Powell, during their LFA 95 bout in 2020. Powell remained unconscious for an extended period, which left everyone, including Pereira, deeply concerned. Helwani, who had witnessed the fight, expressed his fear at the time that Powell might have sustained life-threatening injuries. Pereira, through his coach and translator Plinio Cruz, admitted that the incident was the most frightening he had experienced in terms of potentially harming another fighter. He emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that Powell was out for nearly eight minutes, and even his team, including Glover Teixeira and Cruz, were worried about the outcome.
Pereira’s compassion was evident as he spoke about the incident. He explained that while fighters are fully prepared to win, they never wish for their opponents to be seriously hurt. The desire is for them to be able to return safely to their families after a fight. Despite his reputation for being stoic, Pereira’s concern for Powell’s well-being revealed a different side of him, showing that beneath his tough exterior lies a good heart.
In the same interview, Pereira discussed his professional relationship with Israel Adesanya. He expressed a willingness to set aside their rivalry and entertain the idea of training together. Pereira is gearing up for his first light heavyweight title defense against Jamahal Hill, who is returning from an Achilles injury. The fight is set to headline UFC 300. Pereira acknowledged that both he and Adesanya are experienced fighters with high-level striking skills and that training together could be beneficial for both, potentially adding new dimensions to their respective games.
The interview provided insights into Pereira’s mindset as a fighter and his approach to the sport. It showcased his readiness to collaborate with former rivals for mutual growth, as well as his deep-seated concern for the safety of his opponents. These revelations offer a glimpse into the complexities of mixed martial arts, where fierce competition coexists with respect and concern for fellow athletes.
