Fighters throw punches inside the cage, but sometimes the real fireworks happen afterward on social media. Alex Pereira just reminded everyone why he’s not someone you want to mess with, whether it’s in the octagon or on X. The Brazilian champion doesn’t talk much, but when he does, people listen. His latest target is Ali Abdelaziz, the controversial manager who represents dozens of fighters.

After beating Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320, Pereira could have just enjoyed his victory and moved on. Instead, he decided to address Abdelaziz directly, and he went scorched earth on Ali Abdelaziz following the accusations and comments from the manager.

Alex Pereira Questions Abdelaziz’s Right to Talk Trash

Pereira called out Abdelaziz for never being an athlete himself while profiting off fighters who risk their lives. The champion’s frustration was obvious, and his words cut deep. Pereira and many others in the MMA community have long accused Abdelaziz of posting on his fighters’ social media accounts without their knowledge, stirring up controversy to generate attention. Ankalaev’s pre-fight posts got plenty of attention, and now Pereira was making it clear he knew exactly who was behind them.

“When a manager has never been an athlete and wants to promote to gain fame and money, but you’re the one in there risking your life, and he’s outside laughing.”

The champion’s frustration makes sense when fans consider the buildup to UFC 320. Ankalaev’s social media went into overdrive with posts aimed at Pereira, some of them pretty harsh. Many fans and fighters suspected Abdelaziz was the real author behind those messages, using his client’s account to generate buzz. Pereira clearly believed the same thing. He wasn’t angry at Ankalaev, but he was furious with the manager pulling strings behind the scenes.

Ali Abdelaziz Fires Back With His Credentials

Ali Abdelaziz didn’t stay quiet for long. He responded by defending his approach to the fight business and reminding everyone of his background. Abdelaziz admitted that if people get their feelings hurt in this business, they should just beat it. He drew his usual line about respecting family, religion, and nationality but everything else being fair game. Then he dropped his credentials: two black belts in Judo and Jiu-Jitsu under Renzo Gracie, plus competition experience in both Judo and MMA.

“About me doing sports or not doing sports, this is irrelevant. But, I have two black belts in Judo and Jiu-Jitsu under Master Henzo Gracie. And I also competed in Judo and MMA.

Abdelaziz clearly felt Pereira’s comments questioned his legitimacy in the sport. By mentioning his martial arts background, he tried to prove he’s not just some suit collecting checks. He’s been in gyms, trained hard, and understands combat sports from personal experience. Whether that’s enough to satisfy Pereira and his critics remains another question entirely!