Avoiding chama burnout: Alex Pereira recognizes need for break after adversity-filled UFC 307 camp

SALT LAKE CITY – Over the past three years, Alex Pereira has been one of the most active fighters on the promotion’s roster.

He’s also become one of combat sports’ biggest stars, and it’s quite possible his frequent competition has something to do with that. But even “Poatan” has his limits, as he found out during an adversity-filled UFC 307 camp.

From injuries to travel issues, various levels of uncertainty arose as he prepared for Saturday’s fight vs. Khalil Rountree at Delta Center.

Pereira (12-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) didn’t reveal any of the issues until after he defeated Rountree (14-6 MMA, 9-6 UFC) with a brutal and bloodying Round 4 barrage.

“The fight was really tough but only my team knows how tough this camp really was,” Pereira told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “I went through a lot of stuff that nobody really knows about. I was in Brazil about a month ago. I had some problems with my visa. I was going over to the consulate every single day, trying to see if my passport was ready to be picked up. Finally, I made it back to the U.S. I spent about a week in Connecticut and have been here for three weeks. In the meantime, I was on antibiotics. I had a fever. I had a bad throat. A lot of things happened. Also going back, when I was in Brazil, I hurt my rib. It was an injury I had about a year ago and it came back. So that was also something I was dealing with.”

“When I came here, my throat was still bad. I went to the doctor and had another round of antibiotics. I even recorded a video at the time. I said in the video I would show it if I won. So we can put that out at some point. But I went through a lot. Also, the ligament in my toe that was hurt for UFC 300, that came back. So there were a lot of things I went through in this camp and it was a tough fight, but it was a tough lead up to this fight and I actually feel really proud of myself in this moment.”

A lack of rest between fights may have contributed to the string of injuries, illness, and mental struggles, Pereira admitted. Saturday’s fight was his tenth in the UFC in just under three years’ time.

For that reason, Pereira may take a rare break after this fight. He doesn’t want his “chama” to burn out. But does the training truly ever stop? Of course not.

“I think there is a limit,” Pereira sad. “I want to push myself as much as I can. I’m 37 and I want to take advantage of time. But I do need to take a break. I have some commitments in Mexico and Korea and Malta. I’m going to go hang out with Jorge (Guimarães) in Bali, my manager. We’re going to take Ed (Soares). I need to take some time off, but I’m going to be training.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 307.