Sorry, Jiri. When you face Alex Pereira at UFC 303 on June 29th, he’ll be backed by the strength of his ancestors.
Pereira has openly shared that he channels the spirit of his indigenous Brazilian tribe during fights. He arrives for face-offs in full war paint and performs the Pataxó battle march during his walkout, which includes his signature bow and arrow gesture.
However, Jiri Prochazka, who lost to Pereira before, isn’t impressed. He believes Pereira relies too heavily on these rituals.
“Everyone knows about his pre-fight rituals,” Prochazka said during UFC 303 media day. “People can sense the energy around him. I think Alex can’t fight without it. So, I challenge him to fight clean, without any external influences. Let’s see who’s the best based on pure performance.”
Pereira dismissed the idea of abandoning his rituals.
“Everyone has their own spirits; we’re more than flesh and bone,” Pereira said. “If he hasn’t found his or doesn’t believe in it, that’s his problem.”
Read More: Prochazka’s Redemption Mission at UFC 303: “Master Every Aspect”
It seems unfair for Jiri to ask this of Alex, especially since Prochazka is known for following the samurai code and channeling his energy through bushido. You don’t hear Pereira asking him to abandon that, do you?
Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka will face off in the main event of UFC 303 on June 29th. We’ll keep you updated on which fighter’s ancestral powers prevail.
UFC 303 Fight Cards
- lex Pereira (c) -160 vs Jiri Prochazka +135, light heavyweight title
- Diego Lopes -140 vs Brian Ortega +120, featherweights
- Anthony Smith vs Roman Dolidze, light heavyweights
- Macy Chiasson -115 vs Mayra Bueno Silva -105, women’s bantamweights
- Ian Machado Garry -130 vs Michael Page +110, welterweights
- Joe Pyfer -280 vs Marc-Andre Barriault +230, middleweights
- Andre Fili -250 vs Cub Swanson +205. featherweights
- Charles Jourdain -125 vs Jean Silva +105, featherweights
- Gillian Robertson -170 vs Michelle Waterson-Gomez +145, women’s strawweights
- Payton Talbott -1600 vs Yanis Ghemmouri +800, bantamweights
- Martin Buday -250 vs Andrei Arlovski +205, heavyweights
- Rei Tsuruya -500 vs Carlos Hernandez +380, flyweights
- Ricky Simon -225 vs Vinicius Olivera +185, bantamweights
