Conor McGregor lambasted UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira after sparring with a South Korean boxer.
UFC superstar Conor McGregor wasn’t impressed with Alex Pereira‘s recent sparring session with a South Korean boxer.
Pereira is enjoying some well-deserved time off after three UFC finishes in 2024. He most recently defended the UFC light heavyweight title against Khalil Rountree Jr. in a come-from-behind performance at UFC 307.
In between fight camps, Pereira is usually on the move with his team, making appearances around the world. Most recently, the UFC light heavyweight champion stopped in South Korea and visited a local boxing gym.
Pereira and a Korean professional boxer got to spar while the UFC superstar visited the gym. The two sides went back and forth in a high-octane sparring clash.
Many fans praised both Pereira and the unnamed boxer for putting on a show at the gym. But, McGregor wasn’t impressed with Pereira, slamming the Brazilian on social media.
Conor McGregor questions Alex Pereira for sparring with South Korean boxer
“Pointless,” McGregor tweeted in response to Pereira’s spar.
As of this writing, Pereira hasn’t responded to McGregor’s tweet. But, Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen got a zinger in after seeing McGregor’s taunt.
“Just like your comeback,” Eblen replied to McGregor.
This isn’t the first time McGregor and Eblen have traded barbs on social media. McGregor harshly criticized Eblen’s win over Fabian Edwards in their Bellator title rematch at PFL’s Battle of the Giants event.
McGregor hasn’t appeared in the UFC Octagon since UFC 264, when he shattered his leg against Dustin Poirier. He was supposed to face Michael Chandler in the UFC 303 main event in June before withdrawing due to a toe injury.
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Bellator champ defends Alex Pereira against Conor McGregor’s taunt
During McGregor’s fighting absence, Pereira has skyrocketed into one of the UFC’s biggest pay-per-view stars. He became the fastest fighter to earn multiple UFC titles, knocking out Israel Adesanya at UFC 281 just a handful of fights into his professional MMA career.
McGregor is adamant about a return to the Octagon, as UFC CEO Dana White alluded to during his UFC 309 post-fight press conference. A late 2025 timetable is the likely scenario for McGregor’s long-awaited comeback fight.
Pereira is expected to face surging light heavyweight Magomed Ankalaev for his next title defense, but a return date remains uncertain as of this writing. Ankalaev secured No. 1 contender status by defeating Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308 to extend his 13-fight unbeaten streak.
McGregor could potentially face Chandler in his comeback fight after the two sides coached opposite each other on The Ultimate Fighter. Chandler called McGregor out after falling to Charles Oliveira at UFC 309.
McGregor believes Pereira is doing more harm than good in his overseas sparring sessions. As he continues to plot his UFC comeback, McGregor continues to be a prominent voice on MMA social media.
