In an interview with Ushatayka, Ankalaev’s coach Sukhrab Magomedov accused Pereira of being sticky and having ointment on his body to help him defend takedowns. He even claimed that Pereira’s mentor Glover Teixeira was known to grease.

Pereira, 37, became the subject of whispers this past week when UFC commentator Joe Rogan claimed on his podcast that Pereira came into the Ankalaev fight with a broken hand and norovirus. There's at least some truth to those rumors, as Pereira confirmed he dealt with injuries, but he declined to go into detail.

Alex Pereira has staunchly denied claims from Magomed Ankalaev’s camp that he was ‘greasing’ during their light-heavyweight title clash at UFC 313. Ankalaev, 32, put on a clinic to unanimously outpoint Pereira and strip the Brazilian of his belt in March.