Pereira dealt with rib, toe injuries ahead of UFC 307

UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira overcame a lot of adversity in his most recent training camp.

After knocking out Khalil Rountree Jr. in the UFC 307 main event Saturday to retain his title for the third time, Pereira revealed he dealt with aggravated rib and toe injuries, an illness that required two rounds of antibiotics, and even visa issues ahead of the fight.

"The fight was really tough, but only my team really knows how tough this camp was," Pereira said through an interpreter at the postfight press conference. "I went through a lot of stuff that nobody really knows about."

Pereira also faced the most adversity he ever had in a victory in the Octagon, dropping the first two rounds to Rountree before storming back to earn a violent fourth-round stoppage.

Pereira said he hurt his rib while in Brazil during the first half of his camp. The injury originally occurred about a year ago.

Pereira added that a ligament issue in his toe "came back" before the Rountree fight; he broke the toe ahead of UFC 300 in April. Pereira said he came down with a fever and sore throat when he arrived in the United States during the second half of his camp. Pereira had to see a doctor in Salt Lake City, where he'd spent the last three weeks.

"It was a tough lead-up to this fight," Pereira said. "I actually feel really proud of myself in this moment."

Pereira has been the most active champion in the UFC over the past year, fighting four times. He's defended the belt three times in the span of six months.

"Poatan" said he plans to step away from MMA competition for a little while after maintaining such a busy schedule.

"I want to push myself as much as I can. I'm 37, and I want to take advantage of time," Pereira said. "But I do need to take a break. ... I need to take some time off, but I'm gonna be training."