Daniel Cormier revealed that Pereira's camp was troublesome enough to jeopardize the UFC 307 headliner. After arriving in Salt Lake City, Pereira's team informed the UFC they might have to withdraw from the fight due to various challenges like visa issues and injuries. Unlike typical pressures in fight promotions, the UFC opted to remain supportive rather than force Pereira's hand. This could have led to a notable change in the card, allowing Pennington vs. Pena to become the main event.
Pereira expressed concerns regarding his preparation, stating that he faced visa issues, dealt with a fever that required antibiotics, and struggled with lingering injuries. Despite these challenges, he managed to perform exceptionally, securing a fourth-round technical knockout against Khalil Rountree to maintain his title. Pereira acknowledged the difficulties of his training camp and highlighted the pressures of preparing for such a critical fight, saying he plans to take some much-needed time off after successfully defending his title.
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