The biggest topic of discussion ahead of UFC 303 is whether light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira should be allowed to use magic to win fights, because MMA is a very serious sport.
The speech comes courtesy of light heavyweight title challenger and former champion Jiří Procházka, who issued a public challenge to Pereira ahead of their main event on Saturday. Specifically, he called on the Brazilian not to use “magic” and “spiritual things” in order to fight “man to man.”
Application was performed on “The MMA Hour” on Monday:
“I think he believes a lot in the help of spiritual things, right? And that’s something I think he can’t fight without because I want to keep it on a clear line. Just sporting performance, pure performance, man against man. I think he doesn’t know how to fight without that because he always used these things. So right now I’m looking forward to that.”
“Everyone knows he’s working with some shamans, right? From his hometown? He believes in some kind of spiritual help from them. I do too, but I believe in top performance, human performance here and now, without magic, and let’s see if Alex keeps working like that, because it’s working, but I believe in a clear way and I will do it. I want to win that way.”
Pereira defeated Procházka at UFC 295 in November to capture the vacant light heavyweight title and has since defended the belt against another former champion, Jamahal Hill, at UFC 300.
Pereira, one of the fastest risers in recent UFC history, has indigenous ancestry in Brazil through the Pataxó tribe. He has been very bold with his roots, especially with the bow and arrow ritual he performs every time he enters the Octagon. You You can see him carrying his belt to a Pataxó reserve and wearing his traditional costume here..
Procházka doubled his suspicions in his UFC press conference on Wednesdaywhen he stated that Pereira “cannot fight without” his pre-fight spiritual rituals and again requested that they “fight clearly.”
Pereira, as expected, He knocked him down at his own press conference:
“Well, each one has their own spirit, we are not only made of flesh and blood. I have found mine. If you didn’t find yours or don’t believe, it’s not my fault.”
So, basically, we are dealing with the little-seen accusation of performance-enhancing spirituality.
Either way, Pereira and Procházka promise to deliver a fun fight, which should help offset the disappointment of Conor McGregor canceling his previously scheduled main event against Michael Chandler due to a broken toe. The former champions showed up two weeks early to salvage the card.
But did Pereira have help?