LAS VEGAS – Conor McGregor won’t be competing this Saturday due to a broken toe, something his replacement Alex Pereira is very familiar with.
“Poatan” defends his UFC light heavyweight title on short notice against Jiri Prochazka in the main event of UFC 303, which takes place at T-Mobile Arena. This championship fight was put together with just a few weeks’ notice, as the original headliner between McGregor and Michael Chandler was canceled due to the Irishman’s toe injury.
Interestingly enough, Pereira (10-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) defended his belt in April with a knockout win over Jamahal Hill at UFC 300, and he entered the bout with a broken toe. Some have criticized McGregor, while others have defended his decision not to fight.
Pereira, who’s been there done that, weighed in on the matter.
“I can never judge people’s pain, and it’s different scenarios, different situations,” Pereira said in Portuguese through a translator at Wednesday’s UFC 303 media day. “He made his name, he made his money, and I’m kind of halfway there. I fought with a broken toe in my situation, but maybe if I were in his situation, maybe I would’ve not fought, so I can’t judge.”
Pereira vs. Prochazka (30-4-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) is a rematch, given that the two fought in November at UFC 295. Pereira stopped Prochazka to win the vacant light heavyweight title. Since their first meet, the two followed up with wins in April at UFC 300, with Pereira stopping Jamahal Hill and Prochazka finishing Aleksandar Rakic.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 303.
