Alex Pereira addresses Joe Rogan's claim that he fought injured at UFC 313

Alex Pereira contemplated not fighting at UFC 313.

Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) lost the light heavyweight title to Magomed Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) by unanimous decision in their main event earlier this month at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

UFC commentator Joe Rogan claimed Pereira entered the fight with a hand injury and was battling norovirus. “Poatan” responded to the rumors that he fought compromised.

“I’m not trying to take credit away from Ankalaev,” Pereira said on “The Ariel Helwani Show” through an interpreter. “Many people try to do that kind of thing, and I’m not this type of guy. Everybody goes through problems, and I’m sure he had his own problems, too. I had mine. My hand is fine, but it did affect things. But I don’t want to use that as an excuse. I don’t want to make excuses. I don’t want to use this as leverage for anything.

“My moment is going to come to win the belt, and then I can disclose everything for you guys. Yes, (I considered not fighting at UFC 313). It was one of the more complicated (fight camps) from everything that happened. I don’t regret it because I’ve conquered a lot, I’ve motivated a lot of people and anytime I’ve pushed through things, I was able to overcome. Many times it worked, but this time it wasn’t my moment.”

All signs are pointing to an immediate rematch between Pereira and Ankalaev later in the year. Ankalaev admitted Pereira is the most deserving of a shot after watching Carlos Ulberg outpoint Jan Blachowicz in this past Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 255 co-headliner at The O2 in London.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 313.