Magomed Ankalaev claims he doesn’t need wrestling to dethrone UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.
Pereira was given 11 days’ notice to face Jiri Prochazka for the title in the main event at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday in an effort to save the UFC 303 card. “Poitan” nearly knocked Prochazka out late in the first round, then finished him off with a head kick early in the second.
Ankalaev, a likely contender for the 205-pound title, immediately slammed the champion after the bout, saying the ace grappler doesn’t believe he needs a ground game to beat the former GLORY kickboxing champion.
“Congratulations, champion. I’m very impressed. But the boss [Dana
White] “I always say this is a sport of chance. All I want is a chance,” Ankalaev wrote on social media. “I don’t need wrestling. I have enough striking power to test your chin. I believe I can knock you out.”
@Alex PereiraUFC
Congratulations, champion. I’m very impressed. But boss… Dana White
I always say this is a sport of chance and all I want is a chance, no wrestling. I have enough striking power to test your chin. I believe I can knock you out. Follow
— Magomed Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM)
June 30, 2024
Unbeaten since suffering his only loss in his UFC debut in 2018, Ankalaev has always maintained that top-class opponents are hard to find. Ankalaev was finally offered a chance to fight Pereira for the title at UFC 300 in April, but the Russian star did not accept the bout due to being in Ramadan. Pereira defended his title with a first-round knockout against Jamahal Gil in the main event of UFC 300. Ankalaev is confident he will get another title shot because he is not worried that Pereira will avoid him.
“I’ve been knocked out by all of the top five fighters,” he wrote. “I am the best light heavyweight on the planet. None of these fighters are at my level. And now I get to fight the champion and I believe he doesn’t fear me as much as the others do.”
“I’ve been knocked out of all the top five guys. I’m the best light heavyweight in the world and none of these guys are at my level. And now I’m fighting the champion and I believe he’s not as scared of me as the others are.”
— Magomed Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM)
June 30, 2024
Although Pereira didn’t sustain a scratch in his win over Prochazka at UFC 303, Ankalaev felt the Brazilian might be a weak spot.
“Trust me guys, I’m gonna knock you out [Alex Pereira]There’s no need to take him down, this guy’s jaw is gone but we know he’s very dangerous.
Trust me guys, I’m gonna knock you out
@Alex PereiraUFC
There’s no need to put him down. This guy’s jaw is gone, but I know he’s very dangerous.
— Magomed Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM)
June 30, 2024
Pereira’s rapid rise to stardom has seen him win the UFC title twice and successfully defend it twice in less than three years, and while Ankalaev believes Pereira may not have been ready to face him a few years ago, he now acknowledges that they are both the toughest opponents in their weight classes.
“[Two] A few years ago, Alex Pereira was not ready to fight me, but now I believe he is the toughest opponent in the division for me, and I am the toughest opponent for him in the division.”
Two years ago, Alex Pereira was not ready to fight me, but today I believe he is the toughest opponent in the division for me, and I am the toughest opponent for him in the division.
— Magomed Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM)
June 30, 2024
Meanwhile, Pereira answered “anyone” when asked about the possibility of facing Ankalaev next, with “Poitan” believing that a win over the Russian would mean Ankalaev would no longer be considered his toughest opponent.
“I fought Blachowicz, he was the best fighter, I beat him, but he’s not the best fighter anymore,” Pereira said in a backstage interview. “If I beat Ankalaev, they’ll say he’s not the best fighter anymore.”
