LAS VEGAS – Alex Pereira brushed off his confrontation with Jamahal Hill at the UFC Performance Institute.

On Thursday, as both fighters appeared to be training at UFC PI, Hill approached light heavyweight champion Pereira. That sparked a heated back-and-forth, with Pereira demanding Hill put on the gloves and get in the cage.

Pereira (12-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) was asked to give his side of the story but had little response to Hill (12-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC), whom he knocked out in the title fight at UFC 300.

“Well, things happen,” Pereira told MMA Junkie through an interpreter on the red carpet. “This is the first time something like this has happened to me, but I’m concentrating on myself, on my thing. Right now he should be worried about his next fight. He has a tough fight with Jiri.”

Hill will face his former light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka at UFC 311 on January 18th. Meanwhile, “Poatan” is aiming for a late March or April return.

As for the opponent, Pereira says it could be Magomed Ankalaev.

“It seems like — I don’t know,” Pereira said. “But like I said, I want to make it even harder for him because of all the lies he’s said about me, so let’s see what’s next.”

Both Hill and Prochazka have their sights set on a rematch with Pereira. UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones also wants Pereira next and the newly crowned Fighter of the Year likes that he still has options.

“I’m happy to be called upon by all these people – make my name known,” Pereira said. “People enjoy my work. But at the end of the day I want to continue my work and continue defending my title.”