UFC star Michel Pereira wants to fight Jorge Masvidal after claiming he sent his wife a message on social media.
Pereira extended his unbeaten run to five fights by winning a hard-fought decision against Santiago Ponzinibbio on Saturday night. The win means Pereira will likely break into the welterweight rankings for the first time in his UFC career by taking Ponzinibbio's No.14 spot.
The 28-year-old revealed in his post-fight interview that he wants to fight Masvidal because of an alleged interaction that 'Gamebred' had with his wife Gina Amir Atelier, who is a celebrity jeweller.
“He sent an emoji to my wife," Pereira told reporters after his win. "The emoji with the two hands together like ‘amen.’ He sent it to my wife. He didn’t send it to me. I’ve never actually crossed paths with him. I didn’t have a chance to ask him, so I figured I really want to understand. But I might as well understand inside the octagon, settle it over there."
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Masvidal is unlikely to be fighting anytime soon after being involved in an alleged altercation with bitter UFC rival Colby Covington in April. Covington claims to have suffered a "brain injury" from the alleged attack, with Masvidal since charged with committing aggravated battery on his former training partner.
Pereira is also open to a fight with one of Masvidal's former opponents in Nate Diaz. The Stockton native is on the last fight of his current UFC deal and is frustrated with the promotion after failing to find him an opponent.
“I really want to fight Nate Diaz, because I think it would be really fun to slap each other around,” Pereira continued. “I think it would be a really fun fight. I think we’re going to put on a show for all the fans. Or Jorge Masvidal, because I have a little bit of a problem with him, and I want to settle it."
Pereira understands that fight fans may see his call outs of Masvidal and Diaz as attempts to seek a big payday, but he insists there is more to them. "I understand there’s a time and place to get the money. The money’s there. We know we’re going to make money off of this," he said.
"But can you imagine, myself and Nate Diaz fighting. All the stuff a fight like this, with all our shenanigans and everything else. Money is a consequence of your work, and I’ve always thought about [it]. I’m going to make money, and I just think this is a time to put on a show for the fans.”
