![Alex Perez [Image credits: Getty Images]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2023/03/424f9-16797320057590-1920.jpg)
![Alex Perez [Image credits: Getty Images]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAYACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABgAAEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABgcQAAEEAgMBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAECAwQRAAYFEjEHYQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABREAAgICAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDBAAhBRESUf/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8Awn57xWscxr+zRnIspybFgR0Id7NNtKBFpBR0WQUehQNk5KswIAZbCkrvoLpDHtfrZOMY5xMjzWLYc+gChA+djGebrQVK1Uwp4JeZTs7CtrP/2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Alex Perez is set to take on Manel Kape at UFC San Antonio on Saturday in an exciting flyweight showdown. Ahead of his next outing, the American opened up on dealing with defeat and how losing helped him realize how much work he needed to put in to improve his game.
A graduate of Dana White's Contender Series, Alex Perez went 6-1 in his first seven UFC fights to earn a shot at then-champion Deiveson Figueiredo in 2020. He was submitted in the very first round by 'Deus da Guerra' and suffered a similar fate against Alexandre Pantoja in his next bout.
In an exclusive interview with Andrew Whitelaw for Sportskeeda MMA, Perez discussed what he learned from his last two losses:
"It is what it is, man... I feel like everybody says, 'You win, or you learn,' [but] I feel like that's just a way to soften the blow... But I know I got to work on stuff and improve on everything, so it does help you realize that. It's a sh*t way to realize that, but nothing you can do about it."
Watch our exclusive interview with Alex Perez below:
Alex Perez talks about his improvements ahead of UFC San Antonio
Alex Perez and Manel Kape will lock horns in a pivotal matchup at UFC San Antonio on Saturday. Kape currently holds the No.9 spot in the UFC flyweight rankings, while Perez occupies the No.6 spot on the list.
Another loss for Perez could spell the end of his championship aspirations. The one-time title challenger hasn't competed in eight months and is itching to showcase new wrinkles to his game.
In the same exclusive interview, Perez was asked what improvements he's excited to display this weekend, to which he replied:
"I'm excited that I'm getting to fight for fifteen minutes. My last two fights didn't go past the first round. I've gotten a lot better since. I can honestly say Pantoja was the first guy who literally ran through me... Like I said, I've gotten better... I've improved a lot, just haven't been able to show it."
