UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira angrily stared down a Russian journalist who disrespectfully referred to the Brazilian’s last job.
Pereira grew up in the favelas of Sao Paulo and dropped out of school early to work at a tyre shop.
At the age of 12, he walked 40 minutes to work and only earned 68p per day.
The story was made notorious after it was discovered he was pictured by Google Maps working at the tire shop 13 years ago.
Now at the age of 37, Pereira is a two division champion, previously holding the middleweight strap before his triumphant reign over the light heavyweight division.
His fourth defence of that title will be against Magomed Ankalaev – who many see as the best match up in the division against Pereira.
Ankalaev hails from Dagestan, the region in Russia most notably known for the world class grapplers they produce.
That includes Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev, who are arguably the two best lightweights MMA has ever seen.
If Ankalaev is able to implement his ground game on Saturday Pereira, whose grappling is inferior to his striking, may struggle.
At the UFC 313 press conference, a Russian journalist questioned: “If you absolutely dominate Alex in this fight do you think you’ll send him back to the tire shop?”
Ankalaev laughed while the crowd booed and Pereira was less than happy to say the least.
Pereira laser focused his eyes on the journalist with his signature ‘Chama’ face.
The word directly translates from Portuguese to English to mean fire but in context it means ‘Call me’ or ‘I am here’.
The stoneface emoji is also synonymous with Pereira now.
Fans were in a frenzy online and especially on social media platform X.
“That reporter just cost Ankalaev the fight”, said one supporter.
Another fan posted: “I’ve never seen him show this much emotion, holy f***.”
Others criticised the journalist for his ‘messed up’ question.
In response, Ankalaev replied: “We’re planning to absolutely dominate him on Saturday. We’re going to make sure that Chama has no chances.
“Whether or not he stays in the sport or decides to go back to the tyre shop, that’s going to be up to him, he’s going to have to make his decision.
“The same people that are saying ‘Chama’ now are going to be saying ‘no Chama’. It’s Ankalaev time.”
