Not All Trash Talk: Decoding the Smith Call-out to Pereira

Light heavyweight contenders Anthony Smith (“Lionheart”) and Alex Pereira (“Poatan”) have found themselves locked in a strange dance of verbal jabs and competitive spirit. While some might see it as a burgeoning rivalry, Smith insists it’s a one-sided affair fueled by the champion’s actions.

A Challenge Not of Smith’s Making

Smith, a respected analyst, recently highlighted Pereira’s impressive MMA rise despite his developing grappling skills. This sparked a social media firestorm, with Pereira countering by offering Smith a $50,000 grappling challenge – an offer Smith readily accepted after his victory over Vitor Petrino at UFC 301. Smith emphasizes that he’s simply responding to Pereira’s provocations.

“It wasn’t my f*cking idea,” Smith stated on The MMA Hour. “Every single time grappling has been brought up with Alex Pereira, he f*cking brought it up.” He clarifies he hasn’t challenged Pereira to anything, not even a fight, due to his own ranking. However, he’s open to any competition Pereira throws his way, be it grappling, chess, or even a video game duel.

Adding another layer of weirdness, Pereira attended Smith’s fight at UFC 301 in Rio and feigned sleep as Smith entered the octagon. He even shared the video on social media, prompting Smith to call it “weird.”

Smith maintains he hasn’t instigated any animosity. He acknowledges his desire to fight for the title, but finds Pereira’s playful jabs, despite their strangeness, to be entertaining.

“He’s not this guy that’s just a serial killer mindset,” Smith said, commending Pereira’s social media savvy and humor.

Finding Inspiration in Unexpected Places

Smith’s victory over Petrino marked his first win in Brazil and a significant milestone. Interestingly, his career trajectory shifted dramatically after a knockout loss to Thiago Santos in the same country back in 2018. That defeat led him to move up to light heavyweight, a decision that proved fruitful.

Now, a veteran nearing the later stages of his career, Smith embraces a patient and grateful approach. This philosophy, surprisingly, stems from advice he received from Glover Teixeira, Pereira’s close friend and coach.

“Glover gave me a lot of life advice, a lot of career advice,” Smith revealed. He highlights Teixeira’s relentless focus and dedication to each fight, a quality Smith admires and tries to emulate.

Whether Smith and Pereira’s dynamic is a genuine rivalry or a product of Pereira’s playful taunts remains to be seen. One thing’s for sure: it’s an unusual situation in the UFC. As both men navigate their light heavyweight journeys, fight fans will be watching closely to see if this translates into a future octagon clash or simply fades into a series of amusing social media exchanges.