Mar 8, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Alex Pereira (red gloves) prepares to fight Magomed Ankalaev (not pictured) during UFC 313 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

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Alex Pereira Drops Bombshell: Confirms There Was No Hack And He Sent Furious Anti-UFC Tweet Himself

Mar 8, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Alex Pereira (red gloves) prepares to fight Magomed Ankalaev (not pictured) during UFC 313 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Professional fighters are emotional creatures and social media has given them a direct pipeline to express those feelings instantly. Gone are the days when athletes had to wait for interviews or press conferences to air their grievances. Now, a single tweet can send shockwaves through the entire MMA community in seconds. This immediate access has created some memorable moments, from Jon Jones’ various Twitter escapades to Conor McGregor’s late night rants. But it has also led to plenty of regrettable posts that fighters later wish they could take back.

The “I was hacked” excuse has become the modern equivalent of “the dog ate my homework” in professional sports! Athletes from every discipline have used this digital get out of jail free card when their social media posts backfire spectacularly. Sometimes it’s legitimate, but more often than not, it’s a convenient way to walk back comments made in the heat of the moment. UFC fighters are particularly prone to this phenomenon, given the high-stress nature of their profession and the constant pressure to promote fights and maintain relevance.

Alex Pereira’s Honest Confession Shocks Fans

Alex Pereira finally came clean about his infamous social media meltdown earlier this year. The Brazilian knockout artist had earlier said that he was hacked and the angry message was not him. Now, he admitted he wasn’t actually hacked when he posted angry messages threatening retirement.

Alex Pereira says he was hacked after a tweet about the UFC was posted to his account 👀

“I don’t even know what’s going on. I have a great relationship with the UFC.” pic.twitter.com/5JARLiwo0Z
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) May 7, 2025

Speaking through his translator and coach Plinio Cruz on the Ariel Helwani Show, Pereira revealed the truth behind his digital outburst. He had learned through social media that he might be passed over for a light heavyweight title shot in favor of Jiri Prochazka. The news hit him hard, especially since he felt he had been promised the rematch with Magomed Ankalaev.

“A little bit was miscommunication, because Alex found out through social media and stuff like that. So he was upset, that’s why he sent the [Tweet] but he regretted it. He was wrong because he didn’t know talks that were going on, things that were going on. So it was kind of a miscommunication between camp, manager, and the UFC. Not the UFC’s fault.”

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Cruz explained that Alex Pereira acted impulsively after seeing the rumors online. The former champion felt hurt and betrayed, leading to his emotional response on social media. It was a purely human reaction from someone who had repeatedly saved UFC events by stepping in on short notice. Pereira had fought three times each year for the past three years, often rescuing cards when other fighters pulled out. So when he saw suggestions that someone else might get his promised title shot, his frustration boiled over into a very public tantrum.

(Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – Imagn Images)

Alex Pereira

Alex Pereira Hacked

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!