Brazilian light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira recently voiced a peculiar regret regarding his definitive victory over Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320. Despite successfully avenging an earlier loss to the Russian and reclaiming the undisputed light heavyweight title with a breathtaking 80-second knockout, Pereira expressed disappointment that he didn`t get more time to further humiliate his opponent with a “Sao Paulo Slap,” a taunt famously associated with Nate Diaz.
Pereira`s rapid knockout win came as Ankalaev, reportedly dealing with a significant injury, struggled to find his rhythm. The fighter from Sao Paulo quickly overwhelmed Ankalaev, delivering a powerful and conclusive finish. However, during a Q&A event at UFC Rio, where Pereira was present to support his compatriot Charles Oliveira, he shared his dissatisfaction with what he perceived as an early stoppage.
Pereira`s Plan for a `Sao Paulo Slap`
“I landed a clean punch before the elbows, and he (Magomed Ankalaev) grabbing my legs,” Pereira explained to the media. “There was an opening and my elbow landed clean. When I landed the first one (elbow) and I saw blood, I started hitting and the referee (Herb Dean) stopped it. But I think it could have gone a little longer, because I promised to slap his face and I couldn’t do that.”
As Pereira looks ahead to future challenges, including a potential high-profile bout against former heavyweight champion Jon Jones at a hypothetical “UFC White House” event next summer, some commentators are advising caution. They suggest Pereira should focus on his current commitments in the light heavyweight division, emphasizing that he still has important unfinished business at 205 pounds before considering a move to heavyweight.
