Alex Pereira doesn’t hold back when it comes to his feelings about Magomed Ankalaev ahead of their highly anticipated UFC 320 showdown. In fact, Pereira openly calls Ankalaev a "coward" after a surprising incident at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas — and this is the part most people miss about their brewing rivalry.
Both fighters are deep into preparations for their rematch scheduled for October 4, but tensions escalated recently during a visit to the UFC Performance Institute. Pereira shared a video recounting the experience, revealing that while he spotted Ankalaev’s coach, the light heavyweight champion himself was nowhere to be found. Later, Pereira was told that Ankalaev had actually hidden from him inside the facility.
"Something pretty funny happened just as I was leaving the PI," Pereira explained in his video, as transcribed by Championship Rounds. "I saw Ankalaev’s coach, but I didn’t see Ankalaev anywhere. Then, when I got to my car, someone from my team was still inside and overheard a woman from the PI telling Ankalaev, ‘He’s gone now, you can come out.’"
Pereira’s reaction? "They literally hid the guy in a small room. This dude thinks I’m going to jump him or something. Do I look that stupid?"
But here’s where it gets controversial: Pereira insists that if they had crossed paths, he would have behaved respectfully. Yet, he can’t shake his disappointment and frustration with what he perceives as Ankalaev’s cowardice.
"Honestly, I would’ve handled it better," Pereira admitted. "But the fact that he hides in a room just because I’m nearby? That’s weak. He’s a chump. I’m not the type to start trouble, never have been. But if he comes at me, I’ll defend myself. What kind of champion hides like that? A terrible one. I know that sounds harsh, but that’s how I see it — a lousy champion."
The backstory adds more fuel to the fire: In March, Ankalaev defeated Pereira by unanimous decision, claiming the UFC light heavyweight title and ending Pereira’s impressive five-fight winning streak. Now, as they prepare to meet again in Las Vegas, Pereira isn’t holding back his disdain.
"He’s shown he’s a coward," Pereira said bluntly. "We’ll see what happens when we’re locked in the cage. Unless he tries to jump the fence first."
This bold accusation raises an interesting question for fight fans: Does avoiding confrontation outside the octagon make a champion less worthy? Or is it simply smart strategy to keep focus on the fight itself? What do you think? Is Pereira justified in calling Ankalaev a coward, or is this just part of the psychological warfare that comes with high-stakes UFC battles? Share your thoughts below — the debate is just getting started.
