Conor McGregor‘s withdrawal from UFC 303 due to a broken toe led to Alex Pereira stepping in on short notice to defend his light heavyweight title against Jiri Prochazka, despite Pereira himself having previously fought through the same injury and expressing understanding of McGregor’s decision given their different financial situations.
Conor McGregor’s broken toe during the final weeks of his training camp forced a dramatic shift in the UFC 303 main event. Light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira stepped up on short notice to save the day, facing Jiri Prochazka in a rematch.
Interestingly, Pereira had suffered a broken toe before his previous fight at UFC 300. Despite that, he remained on the historic card and knocked out Jamahal Hill in the first round.
Barely two months later, Pereira fights again. This time, with only a couple of weeks to prepare to defend his belt.
So how does he feel about McGregor dropping out of a fight with the same injury?
“You can never judge people’s pain,” Pereira said during UFC 303 media day. “Different scenarios, different situations.”
Pereira sees it differently; he’s still got work to do before reaching McGregor’s level of wealth and security. That cushion allows McGregor to sit out when he’s not at full health.
Pereira doesn’t feel like he has that same option right now. Maybe his choice would have been different with hundreds of millions in his bank account.
“He made his name. He made his money. He made his life,” Pereira said. “I’m halfway there.”
“So I fought with the broken toe due to my situation but maybe if I was in his situation, I would not have fought.”
“So I cannot judge.”
As for UFC 303 readiness? No excuses from Pereira.
“I feel very good right now, regardless of short notice or not,” he said. “I’m very happy to be here.”
Pereira expects to win and defend his title on Saturday but knows nothing is guaranteed in combat sports.
Even as one of the most lethal strikers in kickboxing or MMA history, he’s been knocked out before. He knows he could do everything right at UFC 303 and still lose.
That’s probably how Prochazka felt after losing to Pereira last November, costing him the light heavyweight title.
Understanding fighting’s unpredictability, Pereira believes he’ll win emphatically but if he loses? “Poatan” is confident he’ll see Prochazka again in a trilogy.
“Nothing by the organization [telling me I get an immediate rematch] but I think if Jiri wins on Saturday, it makes sense for a straight rematch,” Pereira said.
“There are many guys in line but making that fight makes more sense.”
If Pereira wins at UFC 303? He eliminates one of the biggest threats to his belt by holding two wins over Prochazka. It’s rare for anyone to get a third chance after two losses.
If things go as planned for him on fight night?