Athletes
Alex Perez: 'I Could Still Be The Champ'
Flyweight Alex Perez Hopes To Make The Most Of A Main Event Opportunity When He Faces Matheus Nicolau In Las Vegas
Alex Perez doesn’t sweat the small stuff, such as social media critics or those pointing to his current three-fight losing streak as he heads into a pivotal main event showdown with Matheus Nicolau in Las Vegas.
He’s heard worse at home, like that time when he was the only one of his siblings who didn’t place in the State wrestling tournament in high school.
Fight By Fight Preview | UFC Fight Night: Nicolau vs Perez
“They, for sure, rubbed that in my face,” Perez said. “But it's all good. That's how I feel I can deal with the media and people talking smack. My family does it better than them.”
A laugh from the 32-year-old, who is at ease before an important fight that will either push him back down the flyweight ladder or propel him back into the title race. Then again, Perez has always been about the work and the fight, and not so much about the hype.
Main Event Spotlight | UFC Fight Night: Nicolau vs Perez
“I think my personality makes me different,” he said. “I'm pretty quiet on social media. I'm not really on there talking smack about my opponents or trying to get into people's skin. I'm old school. If I have something to say, I'll say it to your face. I respect everybody. I don't have ill will towards anybody. I'm very quiet. But if you get me on that right day, I can definitely flip a switch.”
Perez is expecting to flip that switch against Brazil’s Nicolau this weekend, just like he did against Muhammad Mokaev last month. Perez didn’t get the win, but in his first fight since July of 2022, he acquitted himself well in a competitive fight before losing a 29-28 decision.
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“It was a good fight,” said Perez. “It was 15 minutes, and we went to a decision. I felt like it was 1-1 going into the third. I stuffed most of his shots and he ended up getting a takedown in the third round, which won him the round. Mokaev is a tough fighter; he deserves all the hype and he deserved to win. I felt like I won, but obviously, I didn't do enough for those three judges, and I just take it as it is and go from there.”
The Californian didn’t have to go to far to get the call again, as Manel Kape pulled out of Saturday’s main event and left an opening for Perez to jump in. And he didn’t hesitate.
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“I'm always at the gym,” he said. “Right after my fight, I had no injuries, and I was helping Cody (Garbrandt) and Cynthia (Calvillo), as well. I'm always in shape. I'm always ready to take a fight. And I always tell people I don't get paid to sit on the couch. I get paid to fight. So I always got to be ready when opportunities like this come up.”
And with the flyweight division as wide open as it’s been in a while following the four-fight series between Brandon Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo and the ascension of Alexandre Pantoja, a big win can put Saturday night’s winner in the conversation for a crack at the belt.
Perez, a former title challenger, knows it, too.
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“I could still be champ,” he said. “I've had some setbacks, but that's life. I'm just about the next one, what's next? And I've focused on this next one. It's a big opportunity. He's ranked above me, this is the main event spot and this is a great way to get me back into the title hunt.”
UFC Fight Night: Nicolau vs Perez took place live from UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 27, 2024. See the final Prelims and Main Card Results, Official Scorecards and Who Won Bonuses - and relive the action on UFC Fight Pass!
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