Alex Pereira fires back at Magomed Ankalaev’s "free alcohol" claim ahead of UFC 313 clash: “He is playing with the feelings of the fans”

UFC light heavyweight kingpin Alex Pereira has responded to Magomed Ankalaev’s recent claims that Pereira attends UFC events for free alcohol. Ahead of UFC 313, 'Poatan' and his off-camp distractions, including his travel to Australia to corner Sean Strickland and then meeting Drake, bothered many.

In the meantime, Ankalaev, who is certain that he can dethrone Pereira at UFC 313, has warned the Brazilian champion several times in the past few months.

The Russian recently took to X and wrote that his upcoming opponent attends UFC events for "free alcohol" and "camera time.”

Check out Magomed Ankalaev’s comments below:

'Poatan' has now responded to the remarks. In a recent video, reshared by Championship Rounds on X, he said:

"I don't even pay attention to what he says, the thing he said most about was the alcohol, I don't have that feeling just for me, because I know the pain of the people. He is playing with the feelings of the fans, feelings of the people who go through that."

Pereira added:

"For what he is going to do at the fight, what he isn't going to do, I just stick to myself. I don't say anything, if I say something and don't do it, it will get ugly for me. If he isn't able to do what he said, he will have consequences with that. I don't pay attention to that."

Check out Alex Pereira's comments below:

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Alex Pereira's journey from an alcoholic to a UFC champion

When Alex Pereira was 12, he dropped out of school and began working in a tire shop. In the subsequent years, Pereira became an alcoholic who drank every day to get rid of the addiction, 'Poatan' began kickboxing training at age 21 and went on to become a two-weight world champion in Glory before entering the UFC. Pereira is a former UFC middleweight champion and is the current UFC light heavyweight kingpin. He will defend his strap for the fourth time this weekend at UFC 313 against Magomed Ankalaev.

Talking about his past alcohol addiction, Pereira previously said in a YouTube video:

“Everyone knows my story with the alcohol. I’m a guy who stopped everything."

Check out Alex Pereira's comments below (0:12):