The
Ultimate Fighting Championship could use a little more
transparency.
In a backstage interview ahead of
UFC Freedom 250, former two-division champ Alex
Pereira spoke with fellow ex-two weight class kingpin Daniel
Cormier, with Pereira’s coach Plinio Cruz
translating. During their conversation, the subject of the World
Cup came up, as Cruz was sporting the Brazilian national football
team’s shirt. The most successful team in FIFA World Cup history,
Brazil is matched in Group C against Morocco, Haiti and Scotland
within the next few weeks.
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North America will play host to the World Cup this year, with
Mexico and Canada sharing sites with the U.S. to run the matches.
Taking advantage of the atmosphere, “DC” suggested a bet to the
Brazilian on which team would go further in the competition: the
U.S. or Brazil.
How about $20K
Whether swept up in the moment, overly enthusiastic to be leading
up to the big tentpole show or genuinely filled with national pride
for his football team, Cormier initially offered $5,000 to the
winner. Pereira, with a smile on his face, raised to $20,000.
Cormier balked at the offered increase, while blurting out how much
money “Poatan” is expected to make competing at this event.
“Hold on,” Cormier responded to Pereira’s push to $20K, and then
repeated it. “I’m not making $10 million to fight at the White
House.”
Pereira did not push back at Cormier’s reveal on a number that
likely would have otherwise remained private. Instead, he flashed a
smile and agreed to meet Cormier at $10,000 to the victor. They
made sure to stipulate, the winner donates that amount to the
charity of their choice.
“Poatan” will vie for the interim heavyweight strap against
Ciryl
Gane in an effort to make promotional history. Depending on the
classification of One Championship in 2024, it can be argued that
Anatoly
Malykhin served as the first three-division champion for a
major organization, doing so at 205, 225 and 265 pounds. Regardless
of One, Pereira has a chance to become the first beltholder across
three separate weight categories in the UFC on Sunday.