Credit:Getty/UFC
Credit: Getty/UFC
Credit: Getty/UFC
Credit: Getty/UFC
Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the UFC live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. Count Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight
Michel
Pereira among those that believe his battle with Niko Price
should have earned “Fight of the Night.” Both Pereira (26-11, 2 NC) and Price (14-5, 2 NC) brawled for three
hard-fought rounds on the prelims of
UFC 264, with Pereira getting his hand raised at the end. Much
to their chagrin, the main card offering, Sean
O’Malley’s one-sided beating of newcomer Kris
Moutinho, earned the $75k prize instead. The win was Pereira’s
third in a row inside the Octagon, and the victorious Brazilian
spoke to Sherdog shortly after his victory to give his thoughts on
the whole ordeal.
“They should consider the level of the opponent’s when choosing the
bonus,” Pereira said. “O’Malley got an [easy opponent], that was
not a fair decision. Niko and I faced tough opponents before, and
did a three-round war. We should get that bonus!”
Pereira also commented on the controversial strike where he
backflipped over Price’s guard and stomped Price’s face in the
second round.
“When I did the ‘Canga Leitao,’ my intention was to pass his guard,
not stomp his face,” Pereira explained. “That’s why I executed the
jump with my legs open, but he moved his head. Actually, there are
a lot of illegal blows in MMA, like eye pokes, strikes [to the back
of the head], kicks in [the] groin. But we are talking about a
complete combat sport like MMA, so sometimes it happens. The
referee is there to judge if it was intentional. Niko poked my eyes
twice, and I spent the whole fight seeing him smudged. I’m sure he
had no intention [to foul him], just like I didn’t have intention
to hit his face with my foot.”
Pereira went on to explain why he won the first two rounds, before
slowing in the third.
“Niko hit me with a punch in the nose in the very beginning [of the
round], and due to bleeding, I started to have problems
[breathing], that’s why I became so tired,” Pereira admitted. “If
it was not for the excellent work of my physical trainer, Rafael
Alejarra, I wouldn’t have [had the] physical and cardio conditions
to fight until the end of the third round.”
The man known as “Demolidor” also revealed that within two weeks he
will be back to training, and he hopes for a call from the UFC to
return as soon as possible.
“I hope UFC finally gives me a ranked opponent, but I’ll be ready
for anyone they offer me,” Pereira wished, before drifting into a
pair of dream matchups. “Of course, I would love to face Usman for
the belt. As I said I’m a very bad match up for him, but once my
biggest pleasure is bringing an exciting fight to the fans. And
concerning that, if I could choose an opponent, [it] would be
Nate
Diaz. According to his style and the way he fights, I think we
could make a really fun, historical fight [for] the fans.”
