Alex Pereira has reignited his challenge to Anthony Smith for a $50K grappling match. The light heavyweight champion emphasized the urgency of scheduling this match soon, explaining that the prize money would go towards feeding the needy.
Pereira used his Instagram story to show the seriousness of his challenge.
Pereira made a public appeal to Smith. He clarified that the match wouldn’t be part of any promotional event but rather a straightforward bet to be settled in a gym. Pereira highlighted that organizing the match within an event context would likely face logistical hurdles, thus preferring a more immediate and practical setup.
Pereira stated: “Someone tell [Anthony Smith] that the bet is real, I’m not talking about fighting at an event because I don’t need to promote myself! I’m talking about booking in a gym and the bet would be there because if you wait to fight me at an event it would probably be difficult to happen.”
Pereira assured that he only needs a month to regain his cardio fitness and be ready for the match. He contrasted his intentions for the prize money with Smith’s, stating: “I was out of action for a month because I broke both of my toes, so I only need a month for me [to] recover some of my cardio. He said he would use this money to buy the stupidest thing, I would do it differently, I would buy food for people in need to lessen their pain.”
Regarding Smith, he has already agreed to take up Pereira’s challenge. Smith expressed confidence in his grappling skills, suggesting he would make Pereira tap out. He also offered Pereira the choice of any martial art for the match besides grappling to ensure fairness and adaptability in their showdown.
With both seemingly eager to settle this challenge, it wouldn’t be surprising if they meet soon in a gym to finalize their bet. Fans and followers are keenly watching to see how this unconventional challenge unfolds.
