Alex Pereira came out on top in his latest title defense, but his journey to UFC 307 could have been cut short on a number of occasions.

Following his thrilling main event win over Khalil Rountree Jr. on Saturday in Salt Lake City, the reigning light heavyweight champion revealed to reporters his preparation for the fight was laden with maladies and misfortune.

“The fight was really tough, but only my team really knows how tough this camp was,” Pereira said at the evening’s post-fight press conference. “I went through a lot of stuff that nobody really knows about. I was Brazil over 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 made it back to the U.S., spent about a week in Connecticut, been here for three weeks, in that meantime I was on antibiotics. I had a fever, I had a bad throat, and a lot of things happened.

“Also, going back, when I was in Brazil I hurt my rib. It was an injury that I had about a year ago and it came back, so that was also something that I was dealing with. Then when I came here, my throat was still bad. I went to the doctor, 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 from UFC 300, that came back. There’s a lot of things that I went through in this camp. It was a tough fight, but it was a tough lead-up to this fight, and I actually feel really proud of myself at this moment.”

Injuries piling up for Pereira might be expected given his hectic 2024 campaign. UFC 307 marked Pereira’s third title defense of the year and his fourth championship fight since November 2023. “Poatan” has become one of MMA’s most popular figures both due to his spectacular performances and the frequency with which he delivers them.

But don’t think for a second he wants to make it a habit of overcoming adversity.

“I’d honestly rather not go through what I went through because the body suffers,” Pereira said. “You suffer physically, but the mind is really what suffers in these cases, so I’d rather not have to go through that.”

It’s Pereira’s opponents that typically take the brunt of the damage when he steps into the cage, though Rountree was hardly a punching bag. Known as the “Glory Killer” for scoring wins over Glory Kickboxing veterans Gokhan Saki, Karl Roberson, and Dustin Jacoby, Rountree threatened to live up to his nickname at several points in Saturday’s fight as he traded heavy strikes with Pereira.

In the end, Pereira’s famed finishing ability shined and he beat Rountree down with a barrage of strikes in Round 4. He then stated his intentions to stay at light heavyweight rather than chase a title in another division, which could set him up to face the winner of the upcoming UFC 308 contest between top contenders Magomed Ankalaev and Aleksandar Rakic.

Just don’t expect Pereira to hop back into the cage so soon again as even he has to admit his level of activity has become difficult to manage.

“For sure, it’s a lot,” Pereira said. “I think that there is a limit. 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 need to take some time off, but I’m going to be training.”

Majority shareholder Dermot Desmond believes Celtic have done “exceptionally well” in the early weeks of the current campaign.

A dramatic late win at Ross County on Sunday stretched their winning league start to seven games, with a League Cup semi-final to come next month.

Desmond, who was playing at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, said a chastening 7-1 Champions League defeat by Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday was unfortunate, but the Irishman said “it was important” Celtic responded.

“I am very pleased,” he told BBC Scotland.

“I think we have played good football. We had a good start and could have played bad football, but we have played very good and exciting football.

“Unfortunately we weren’t at our best on Tuesday, but I like what we are doing, what Brendan is doing and I think we have a good squad.”

MMA: UFC 303 – Pereira vs Prochazka

Jamahal Hill isn’t letting go of his ill will toward Alex Pereira following UFC 307 – especially after the champion took a shot at him.

Hill (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) ramped up his beef with Pereira (12-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) on Saturday when he was caught on camera sarcastically yawning cageside at Delta Center in Salt Lake City after “Poatan” delivered a fourth-round TKO of Khalil Rountree in the main event to defend the light heavyweight belt (via X):

JAMAHAL HILL’S REACTION AFTER PEREIRA DEFEATED ROUNTREE 👀 #UFC307 pic.twitter.com/ajJefupVdg

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 6, 2024

Pereira, who defeated Hill by first-round knockout at UFC 300 in April for the first defense in his current reign, was asked about the video during the UFC 307 post-fight press conference. The Brazilian has not been a fan of how Hill has conducted himself in the aftermath of the fight with complaints about the refereeing and stoppage, and he used the opportunity to take a dig at his former opponent.

“Maybe he just woke up from UFC 300,” Pereira said with a laugh.

Alex Pereira reacts to Jamahal Hill yawning at his #UFC307 title defense.

“Maybe he just woke up from UFC 300.” pic.twitter.com/jk7LVrfUga

— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) October 6, 2024

Hill did not sit idle while Pereira made his statement. He quickly replied in the comments on social media, and reiterated what he’s said in the past: That he’s coming for a rematch (via Instagram):

Hill hasn’t competed since the loss to Pereira at UFC 300. He was scheduled to fight Rountree at UFC 307 in July, but was forced to withdraw due to injury and has yet to be scheduled for anything else.

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

Jake Paul is getting ready for Mike Tyson.

Paul faces Tyson in an eight-round boxing match on Nov. 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. The two were originally scheduled to fight back in July until a medical episode forced Tyson to delay the bout. Now back on again, on Friday the former heavyweight champion released a video of his training for the bout, so on Saturday, Paul returned the favor with sparring footage showing his own preparation.

But being who he is, Paul was not content simply to post training footage; however, instead of taking shots at Tyson, Paul dropped a second video clowning his longtime rival KSI.

“When Mike Tyson knocks you out but KSI’s song starts playing.”

Paul and KSI are the two biggest names in the emerging influencer boxing scene. Over the past few years, KSI has lobbied for a boxing match between the two but it’s yet to take place.

Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa and Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White are doubts for England duty after sustaining injuries on Sunday.

Konsa, 26, suffered a hamstring injury and left the field just 12 minutes into Villa’s goalless draw against Manchester United.

Gibbs-White, 24, was substituted after 76 minutes of Forest’s 1-1 draw at Chelsea.

Both players have been named in Lee Carsley’s 25-man squad for England’s Nations League fixtures against Greece and Finland next week.

Carsley handed Konsa a starting role when the Three Lions beat Finland 2-0 at Wembley on 10 September.

“I think it is a hamstring but I don’t know if big or small,” Villa boss Emery said of Konsa’s injury.

However, after Emery had spoken at his post-match press conference a Villa official said even if the injury was a small one, it would still rule Konsa out for two weeks and therefore make no sense for England to call him up.

Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo also suggested the prognosis on Gibbs-White is unclear until they further investigate on Monday.

“He will be assessed and tomorrow he will do a scan to see if he can join the England squad. I hope for the best,” Nuno told BBC Sport.

Gibbs-White made his senior debut for England from the bench during a 2-0 Nations League victory against the Republic of Ireland on 7 September.

England will attempt to extend their winning start under interim manager Carsley when they host Greece on 10 October and travel to Finland three days later.