Alex Pereira responds to Jamahal Hill: “Maybe he just woke up from UFC 300?” | Post Fight Presser

Summary

In this video, a UFC fighter reflects on the most challenging fight of his career. He discusses the difficulties faced during preparation, including visa issues, illness, and injuries like a ligament tear and inflamed cartilage. Despite these hardships, he expresses pride in overcoming adversity and winning the fight. He also shares insights about his mental toughness, the challenges of adjusting to altitude, and his desire to fight in different weight classes, including heavyweight. The fighter remains determined but acknowledges the need to manage his body's limits as he continues his career.

Takeaways

• 😀 Alex discussed how difficult the fight was but emphasized that the preparation for it was even more challenging due to numerous personal obstacles.
• 🌍 He had significant visa issues, spending days at the consulate before he could return to the United States.
• 🤒 Alex faced health problems, including a fever, throat infection, and had to take antibiotics twice during his preparation.
• 💪 In addition to being sick, he also dealt with a rib injury and ligament damage in his finger, which added to the challenges of his training camp.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Despite the physical challenges, he maintained a positive mindset and was proud of his perseverance through these difficulties.
• ⛰️ Alex highlighted the impact of training at altitude, where his throat issues worsened, but he pushed through to adjust to the conditions.
• 🎯 His strategy during the fight, including targeting his opponent's lead leg, was carefully planned, despite missing some early kicks.
• 🏆 He expressed immense pride in overcoming these adversities and delivering a strong performance in the fight.
• 👊 Alex acknowledged that his body needs rest after pushing himself hard at 37 years old, and mentioned plans for taking a break after some upcoming work trips.
• 🌟 He appreciates the success he's achieved in the UFC and credited his team and the people around him for helping him reach his current level.

Q & A

What was the toughest part of Alex's fight preparation?

According to Alex, the toughest part was not the fight itself but the preparation leading up to it. He faced several challenges, including visa issues, illness, and injuries.

What kind of health issues did Alex face before the fight?

Alex had multiple health issues, including a fever, sore throat, and reduced immunity. He had to take antibiotics twice during his preparation, and he also suffered from an inflamed rib cartilage and a torn ligament in his pinky finger.

How did Alex's visa problems affect his training camp?

Alex had trouble getting his visa to return to the United States. He had to visit the consulate daily, and his visa was only approved a month before the fight, causing delays in his training.

What injuries did Alex carry into the fight?

Alex had a rib injury that had previously resulted in cartilage inflammation, and he tore a ligament in the same pinky finger he had broken earlier.

How did Alex feel about his performance given all the challenges he faced?

Alex was proud of himself for overcoming these difficulties and putting on a great performance. He believed that if he hadn’t been sick and injured, he would have performed even better.

How did the altitude impact Alex during the fight?

Alex struggled with the altitude during his preparation. Despite arriving three weeks early to acclimate, the altitude still made it harder for him to recover from his illnesses and perform at his best.

Why did Alex bring a specific sparring partner into his training camp?

Alex brought in Sean Strickland for sparring to help with his wrestling. Despite not using much wrestling during the fight, Strickland’s experience and toughness contributed to his preparation.

How did Alex adjust his strategy during the fight?

Alex’s strategy included targeting his opponent’s lead leg, and he adjusted his kicks throughout the fight to avoid getting too close. He aimed to land strikes from a safer distance, which worked well in his game plan.

Did Alex think he needed to take a break after the fight?

Yes, Alex acknowledged that he might need to take a break. At 37 years old, he felt that he had pushed his body hard and needed time to recover, though he still wanted to make the most of his remaining fighting career.

What did Alex say about fighting in Utah and dealing with past injuries?

Alex mentioned that he fought in Utah previously with a torn meniscus and had knee surgery afterward. Despite this, he continued to train hard and return to form, even though injuries always seemed to come up.

Outlines

00:00

💪 Overcoming Difficulties Before the Fight

Alex reflects on the challenges he faced leading up to the fight. He talks about the toughest part being the preparation rather than the fight itself. He experienced visa issues that delayed his return to the U.S., got sick with a fever and throat infection, had to take antibiotics, and dealt with an inflamed rib cartilage. Despite these hardships, including a ligament tear in his finger, he pushed through and performed well in the fight. Alex expresses pride in his ability to overcome these obstacles and still deliver a strong performance.

05:18

⛰️ Training in High Altitude and Battling Illness

Alex explains how he prepared for the fight by training at high altitude, even though he was sick. He notes that he had to take two rounds of antibiotics, which affected his training performance, but he still felt strong during his workouts. He believes that if he hadn’t been ill, his performance would have been even better. Despite all these challenges, he remains happy with the outcome of the fight and is proud of how things turned out.

10:19

🤕 Reflecting on Physical Challenges and Future Plans

Alex discusses his body's wear and tear from fighting so frequently, and how he might need to slow down and take better care of himself. At 37 years old, he acknowledges the limits of his body and the need to recuperate after pushing himself hard. He mentions upcoming work commitments in Mexico, Malta, and Korea, and plans to take some time off to relax. He also talks about an unexpected moment during the fight when a planned kick missed, but he was able to adjust his strategy.

15:38

👊 Strategic Kicking and Handling Opponent’s Speed

Alex reflects on his fight strategy, particularly his planned kicks to his opponent’s lead leg. He explains that the altitude and adrenaline may have played a role in his opponent’s speed, but Alex stuck to his strategy and was able to land effective blows. Although his opponent landed some strikes, Alex felt it was all part of the game plan. He also addresses how fans react when they see him get hit, since it’s not something they are used to seeing from him.

😂 Responding to Fans and Critics After the Fight

Alex responds to a video of his opponent yawning after the fight, implying the fight was boring. He laughs off the reaction, attributing it to his opponent just waking up from UFC 300. Alex also talks about bringing in another fighter, Strickland, into his training camp, praising him for his toughness and willingness to help despite Alex’s health challenges during preparation. He expresses gratitude for Strickland’s role in his training and success.

🥇 The Journey to Success and Gratitude for Support

Alex reflects on how much he has achieved in his UFC career in a short amount of time, emphasizing the hard work and dedication that has brought him to this point. He mentions how he has always maintained focus, even during his amateur days, which has led to his current success. Alex also acknowledges the support he has received from key figures in his life, including his coach Glover and his manager, who have both played crucial roles in shaping his career.

🔥 Ambitions for Heavyweight Fights and Future Goals

Alex talks about Conor McGregor’s video suggesting he should fight in the heavyweight division. Alex had already requested a heavyweight fight, and UFC President Dana White expressed pride in Alex’s achievements. Alex hints that a heavyweight fight could be a great way for UFC to show their appreciation. He concludes by looking back on his past fights in Utah, including a difficult bout where he fought with a torn meniscus. Despite the challenges, he underwent knee surgery and has now returned stronger.

Keywords

💡Tough Fight

In the context of the video, 'tough fight' refers to the difficult battle the fighter experienced, not just in the octagon, but also in the preparation leading up to it. The fight was described as brutal, with the physical and mental challenges being as significant as the fight itself. The fighter emphasizes how the fight tested him after enduring a range of difficulties.

💡Preparation

Preparation refers to the period before the fight, which was unusually challenging for the speaker due to various obstacles, such as illness, visa issues, and injuries. The speaker details how preparing for the fight was, in fact, more difficult than the fight itself, highlighting how crucial mental and physical preparation is for success in such high-stakes situations.

💡Visa Problem

The speaker faced a visa problem while trying to return to the United States from Brazil. This caused delays and added stress to his preparation for the fight. He mentions going to the consulate daily to check on his visa status, which only arrived a month before the fight, emphasizing how logistical issues added to the overall challenge of his journey.

💡Illness

Illness refers to the physical health challenges the fighter faced during his preparation. He mentions having a fever, a sore throat, and a weakened immune system, requiring him to take antibiotics. Despite these setbacks, he continued to train, further illustrating his resilience. The illness compounded the difficulties of adjusting to altitude and recovering from previous injuries.

💡Altitude

The altitude is another challenge the fighter mentions, as he trained three weeks before the fight at a high altitude, which affected his breathing and performance. Adjusting to the altitude was a physical test that compounded his other struggles, but he used it as a way to push himself even further during training.

💡Injury

Injury in this context refers to both past and recent physical damage the fighter suffered, including a ligament tear in his finger and inflammation in his ribs. These injuries made his preparation even harder, but he still managed to compete. The fighter reflects on how dealing with such injuries is common in combat sports but adds significantly to the challenge.

💡Mental Toughness

Mental toughness refers to the fighter's ability to overcome the mental strain that comes from dealing with illness, injury, and logistical problems while maintaining focus on the fight. He emphasizes that the hardest part of the preparation was the mental struggle, indicating that a strong mind is crucial for handling adversity both inside and outside the octagon.

💡Rest and Recovery

Rest and recovery refer to the need for the fighter to take a break after pushing his body to its limits. He acknowledges that at 37 years old, he needs to give his body time to recover and heal from the wear and tear of fighting and training. He plans to take some time off with his manager and relax after this fight, highlighting the importance of balancing activity with rest.

💡Game Plan

The game plan refers to the strategic approach the fighter and his team developed for this particular fight. He explains how they planned to exploit the opponent's weaknesses, such as targeting the opponent’s front leg. The fighter reflects on how executing the plan successfully was key to his victory, demonstrating the importance of tactical preparation in combat sports.

💡Support Team

Support team refers to the group of people who helped the fighter throughout his preparation, including his coaches, training partners, and manager. He expresses gratitude for their support, noting that they were aware of the difficulties he was facing, and their presence was essential for his success. The fighter highlights the importance of surrounding oneself with a strong team to handle the complexities of professional fighting.

Highlights

Alex discusses the toughest fight he has ever had, mentioning both physical and mental challenges.

He talks about significant issues leading up to the fight, including visa problems and delays in returning to the US.

Alex shares his health struggles before the fight, including a fever, sore throat, and multiple rounds of antibiotics.

He had previous injuries, including a fractured rib cartilage and a ligament tear in his pinky finger.

Alex expresses pride in overcoming these adversities and still putting on a strong performance.

He reveals that he recorded a video before the fight, saying he would share it only if he won, and now plans to show it.

Despite going through these health and injury challenges, Alex highlights the importance of mental strength in his preparation.

He reflects on his body taking a lot of wear and tear, noting that he might need to take a break to recover.

At 37 years old, Alex acknowledges pushing his body to its limits and planning some work trips before taking time off.

He explains his strategy in the fight, adjusting to his opponent's southpaw stance and landing crucial leg kicks.

Alex addresses concerns about his performance, stating that people aren’t used to seeing him take damage, but it’s part of the fight.

He comments on a video of his opponent yawning after the fight, suggesting it may have been just waking up and dismissing it.

Alex mentions bringing a previous opponent into his camp for training, praising his courage and contribution.

He reflects on how his career has evolved, from fighting as an amateur to now enjoying the benefits and glamour of UFC success.

Alex shares that Conor McGregor suggested he fight in the heavyweight division, and he had previously requested such a fight.

Transcripts

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