Former UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira said Wednesday he thought about withdrawing from his fight against Magomed Ankalaev after facing some obstacles throughout camp.
Pereira dropped the 205-pound title to Ankalaev at UFC 313 earlier in March, losing by unanimous decision.
"(That was) one of the more complicated fights with everything that happened," Pereira said through an interpreter on "The Ariel Helwani Show."
Pereira didn't specify the issues he faced ahead of the Ankalaev fight, though he said he will "disclose everything" at a later date. UFC color commentator Joe Rogan said last week that he'd heard Pereira fought Ankalaev "with a broken hand and norovirus," but Pereira said his hand was "fine."
"I do not try to take credit from Ankalaev," Pereira said. "Many people try to do that kind of thing. I'm not this type of guy. Everyone goes through problems. I'm sure he had his own problems, too. ... I don't want to use that as an excuse."
Even though the matchup didn't go his way, Pereira said he doesn't regret fighting Ankalaev at UFC 313.
"No," Pereira said. "I do not regret it, because like I said, I've conquered a lot. I've motivated a lot of people. Many times, I've pushed through things, I was able to overcome. Many times it worked, (but) this time was not my moment."
Pereira, also a former UFC middleweight champion, suffered his first loss as a light heavyweight against Ankalaev after rattling off three consecutive title defenses in 2024.
The 37-year-old Brazilian said he's "very motivated to win the belt back" and "100%" expects his next fight to be an immediate rematch against Ankalaev. Pereira said he would like to run it back with the 32-year-old Dagestani this summer, but that the UFC has yet to approach him with an offer.
"Nothing has come to me yet, but August is a good date," Pereira said. "As soon as the contract gets in, I'm signing it."
