Yesterday, the internet was buzzing with coverage of UFC 307’s headline event, where Alex Pereira successfully defended his light heavyweight title against the #8 contender, Khalil Rountree Jr. ‘Poatan’ secured a dominant win and earned an estimated $90,000 for his efforts, further solidifying his position in the division. However, what also remained in the spotlight was UFC superstar Conor McGregor.
The Irishman who, just like any commentator, followed the main fight card closely and wasn’t shy about sharing his opinions on X. At the last minute before the headline event, McGregor took a gamble, placing a $1 million bet on Alex Pereira to win. When ‘Poatan lived up to his reputation and secured a fourth-round victory, McGregor pocketed a hefty $200,000, proudly tweeting, “$200k baby! THE Rich Get Richer!”
But the celebration didn’t end there. A day later, Mystic Mac returned to X to express his appreciation for both Alex Pereira and Khalil Rountree Jr. In a gesture of gratitude, he tweeted (now deleted), “Thank you, Pereira and Rountree! Proper goes 1000%!” These days, Conor McGregor is struggling to return to the octagon, as his previous opponent, Micheal Chandler, tired of waiting, has decided to move on to face Charles Oliveira at UFC’s Madison Square Garden event slated for next month.
However, McGregor, who has a knack for finding satisfaction in others’ victories, did not hesitate to appreciate Pereira and Khalil Rountree Jr. for showcasing one of the best title scraps in UFC history. He credited them, saying, “That was real fighting in the @UFC main event last night. Never settle for that other bullshit, @UFC fans! Never! Bravo, Khalil and Alex! REAL!” Following ‘Poatan’s’ win, McGregor wasted no time making demands, calling for the ultimate showdown between Pereira and UFC heavyweight king Jon Jones.
Pereira Responds to Conor McGregor’s Heavyweight Showdown Request
Earlier this year, after successfully defending his light heavyweight title for the third time, Alex Pereira generated excitement in the combat sports industry by expressing his intention to move up to the heavyweight division to challenge the belt holder, whether it’s Tom Aspinall, Jon Jones or Stipe Miocic. Regardless of the champion, he was ready for the challenge.
However, a few months later, Pereira dampened the thrills of fans after witnessing the defeat of his former arch-nemesis Israel Adesanya at the hands of middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis, indicating his intention to step down to the 185-pound division. Nevertheless, McGregor remained steadfast in his demands for a “Poatan vs. Bones” showdown. Following the fight, Pereira commented on the situation in the post-fight interview, stating, “I can move up to heavyweight, but this situation is great. I feel great with this [205-pound] weight cut, and this is where I’m at.”
As Alex Pereira has now entered a much-deserved hibernation after consecutively fighting for years, he has put himself on pause for the rest of the winter. It will also be intriguing to see who Conor McGregor’s next opponent will be. Drop your opinion below!
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Does McGregor's $1M bet on Pereira show confidence or just another rich man's gamble?