UFC fighter Alex Pereira has denounced fellow fighter Anthony Smith for his recurring lack of recognition and respect towards him, further fueling their ongoing feud.
It appears that Alex Pereira doesn’t have any intention of reconciling with Anthony Smith in the near future. The two have been publicly exchanging barbs over the past few months; notably, Pereira marked Smith as “washed up” following Smith’s criticism of Pereira’s performance against Jan Blachowicz at UFC 291. In reaction to Pereira’s comment, Smith responded defiantly, telling Pereira that if he was looking for a rival, Smith is ready to be one.
The origins of the conflict between the two seem to have arisen suddenly, but according to a recent interiew, Pereira revealed that his issues with Smith have been simmering for a substantial duration. “The issue is, he has his job with the UFC commentating,” Pereira expressed via a translator. Pereira expressed his sense of injustice that despite a series of victories, he felt Smith had consistently failed to give him due credit.
Pereira continued to express his frustration, stating that Smith repeatedly discredited him, stating that even his victories were against inferior opponents, or stating that his next match would be too challenging. Pereira felt that Smith, instead of acknowledging him for his wins, never missed an opportunity to discredit him. This, according to Pereira, is the reason behind their ongoing rivalry.
As for the resolution of their animosity, it appears it will have to be left unresolved for now. Despite both parties suggesting a grappling match to mend their differences, Pereira has other priorities. The former UFC middleweight champion is now set to take on Jiri Prochazka for the light heavyweight title. This significant match is scheduled as the co-main event of UFC 295, on Nov. 11 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.