Alex Pereira has reached his boiling point with Anthony Smith’s critiques.
Anthony Smith, 35, re-entered the winner’s circle during the UFC Singapore’s co-feature last weekend, narrowly besting Ryan Spann through a split decision. This was a rematch from their clash in September 2021, where Smith triumphed by choking Spann out with a first-round rear-naked submission. However, he then suffered back-to-back defeats against fighters Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker.
While Smith was hitting a rough patch, Pereira, the former middleweight champ, shifted gears to light heavyweight. Smith initially doubted Pereira would thrive against the division’s superior wrestlers and heavier competitors. Pereira proved him wrong, taking a split decision win over former titleholder Jan Blachowicz at UFC 291. During last week’s UFC Singapore media day, Smith acknowledged Pereira’s performance but felt that Pereira was no longer the “towering, intimidating force” he was at 185 pounds, instead describing him as “pretty much an average Joe.”
On his YouTube channel, Pereira hit back, “I always hear him chattering, especially about me. He’s always negative. I don’t get what his issue with me is, but he slams other athletes as well. Like that time he critiqued a fighter for not making weight during Glover Teixeira’s fight in Rio. Clearly, he has no idea what fighters go through.”
Pereira continued, “It’s as if he’s seeking the limelight because his fight career isn’t really buzz-worthy anymore. No one’s talking about him, so he feels the need to spew absurdities to capture some attention.”
Smith, who has transitioned more into analysis and commentary roles recently, still dreams of reclaiming his competitive edge. But he conceded that trying to adopt Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone’s ‘fight anytime, anywhere’ mentality may have been a misstep.
According to Pereira, Smith’s external commentary is driven by jealousy. “When you see one person succeeding and another only hurling insults, it’s obvious who’s bitter here,” Pereira stated. “The only people who badmouth me are the Anthony Smiths of the world. Washed-up veterans, still in the game but never really making an impact.”
Propelled by his victory over Blachowicz, Pereira now sits among the top three in the UFC’s official light heavyweight rankings, potentially setting him up for a title bout against ex-champ Jiri Prochazka.
Currently unwinding in Los Angeles, Pereira shared his own take on the Singapore event, stating that it wasn’t much of a spectacle. “The first round was fairly mundane. Smith won, but not by much. Round two was where Ryan Spann actually posed a threat. And round three? Well, let’s just say that I couldn’t figure out if it was Smith’s age or some environmental factor that was making him so fatigued.”
Pereira concluded, “All in all, it was a contentious fight. Smith took round one, Spann clearly owned round two, and the third was a toss-up. In my eyes, it was more or less a stalemate.”
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Poll Position
Last Week’s Results:
- 63% believe Israel Adesanya will still be the UFC middleweight champion next year.
- 38% think Sean O’Malley will defend his title once.
- 71% correctly predicted Max Holloway and Ryan Spann would win this weekend.
Today’s Poll:
Who do you think should have won the UFC Singapore co-main event?
- Anthony Smith
- Ryan Spann
VOTE
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Thanks for catching up with us! So, are we sensing a Pereira vs. Smith showdown soon? Because in this messy light heavyweight division, it could be a popcorn-worthy match-up. Stay tuned!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Alex Pereira vs Anthony Smith
What is the main subject of this Morning Report?
The main subject of this Morning Report is the ongoing feud between Alex Pereira and Anthony Smith. Pereira criticizes Smith for his comments about him and also breaks down Smith’s recent performance at UFC Singapore.
Who recently won a fight at UFC Singapore?
Anthony Smith won a fight at UFC Singapore against Ryan Spann via a split decision. This was a rematch from their September 2021 encounter, where Smith also emerged victorious.
What is Alex Pereira’s main criticism of Anthony Smith?
Alex Pereira’s main criticism of Anthony Smith is that Smith enjoys being in the spotlight and frequently criticizes other athletes without understanding what they go through. Pereira believes Smith’s criticisms stem from jealousy and a lack of success.
What division has Alex Pereira transitioned to?
Alex Pereira has transitioned from middleweight to light heavyweight in the UFC. He recently passed a significant test in this new division with a split decision win against Jan Blachowicz at UFC 291.
How does Alex Pereira describe Anthony Smith’s recent performance?
Alex Pereira describes Anthony Smith’s recent performance as lackluster. He finds the first round bland and notes that Smith looked tired in the third round. Pereira believes the fight against Ryan Spann was more or less a tie, in his view.
What are other news highlights included in this Morning Report?
What does Alex Pereira think of Anthony Smith’s analyst and desk role?
Pereira believes that Smith, despite being an analyst and having fought for years, chooses not to give other athletes any credit or at least stay silent. He feels that Smith loves being in the spotlight and criticizes others just to gain attention.
Who does Alex Pereira expect to face for the vacant crown?
Alex Pereira expects to possibly face former champion Jiri Prochazka for the vacant light heavyweight title after his win against Jan Blachowicz catapulted him into the top three of the UFC’s official light heavyweight rankings.
What does the report mention about fan polls?
The report includes a series of polls about various UFC topics, such as whether Israel Adesanya will still be the middleweight champion next year, and who fans thought would win between Max Holloway and Ryan Spann.
Does the report suggest that a fight between Alex Pereira and Anthony Smith would be interesting?
Yes, the report concludes by suggesting that a fight between Pereira and Smith could be an interesting matchup, particularly given the current state of tension in the light heavyweight division.
More about Alex Pereira vs Anthony Smith
- UFC Official Rankings
- Alex Pereira’s YouTube Channel
- Anthony Smith’s Fight Record
- UFC Singapore Event Recap
- Jan Blachowicz vs. Alex Pereira Fight Analysis
- UFC 291 Event Summary
- UFC Fighter Polls and Surveys
- Twitter Profile of @DrakeRiggs_
- MMAFighting on Instagram
- UFC Facebook Page
10 comments
gotta say, i’m here for this kinda drama. UFC’s gotta milk this beef for all its worth.
lol why is Smith even talking? Hasn’t been relevant in like…forever. Pereira’s gonna tear him a new one if they ever meet in the octagon.
Man, Pereira’s got some serious beef with Smith! It’s about time someone called him out for his commentary.
The fact that Pereira’s relaxing in LA and still had the time to trash Smith is hilarious. He’s just sitting there like “Smith who?”
Smith’s in the analyst role now, right? Guess someone forgot to remind him that those who can’t do, teach. Or in this case, talk. a lot.
Well, Pereira vs Smith would be a heck of a fight tho. The drama’s already there, so why not? UFC, make it happen!
Smith says Pereira isn’t the same anymore. Ha! did Smith look in the mirror lately? the guys all talk, Pereira is the real deal
Smith’s talkin bout “fairly normal dude”? Last time I checked, fairly normal dudes don’t rank top 3 in the UFC.
Pereira’s not just throwin punches, he’s throwin SHADE! lol. would pay to see these two get in the ring.
Pereira’s been killin it lately, no wonder he’s got no time for Smiths nonsense. Top 3 baby, he’s going all the way!