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Tag: magomed ankalaev

  • Israel Adesanya Warns Magomed Ankalaev Of ‘Painful’ Experience vs. Alex Pereira 

    Israel Adesanya Warns Magomed Ankalaev Of ‘Painful’ Experience vs. Alex Pereira 

    Israel Adesanya will be paying close attention to Alex Pereira’s light heavyweight title defense at UFC 313, which presents him with a formidable challenge against Magomed Ankalaev, a fighter riding a 13-fight unbeaten streak. 

    Given their extensive history across multiple combat sports, Adesanya possesses unparalleled insight into Pereira’s fighting style. Their relationship, now marked by cordiality, lends significant weight to the former middleweight king’s analysis of Pereira’s fights.

    Ankalaev’s diverse skillset is widely anticipated to test Pereira’s abilities to their limits. “Poatan,” however, heads into the fight with significant momentum, having successfully defended his title three times in 2024. A victory this weekend would solidify his place in history, making him the fastest light heavyweight champion to achieve four title defenses (within 329 days), surpassing Jon Jones’ record.

    Adesanya’s prediction for the UFC 313 main event is decisive: he doesn’t foresee the clash between Pereira and Ankalaev going the full five rounds. Instead, Adesanya anticipates a decisive finish.

    “Leg kicks. Let’s just address the f*cking elephant in the room,” Adesanya said. “That’s gonna be a factor in this fight. (Ankalaev) might have to become a wrestler in this fight. He might have to go into his bag for this one ’cause you can’t just (stand with Pereira).

    “Maybe I’m banking so much on the leg kicks. I have experience with it. I know how painful it is and how effective it is,” Adesanya continued. “Regardless, I’m gonna go Pereira ’cause momentum. He’s just on a tear right now. When you have that kind of frame and power, you just trust in your skillset so much.”

  • Jamahal Hill Expects ‘Hate’ For Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev Prediction

    Jamahal Hill Expects ‘Hate’ For Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev Prediction

    Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill has given his take on Saturday’s main event between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev — and he doesn’t foresee it being a popular one.

    This weekend’s UFC 313 pay-per-view will conclude with Pereira’s fourth defense of the light heavyweight gold, which he held through three challenges in 2024.

    Among the fallen contenders was Hill, who was knocked out by “Poatan” inside the first round at UFC 300 last April.

    But despite feeling the full force of Pereira’s patented left hook, “Sweet Dreams” doesn’t expect Magomed Ankalaev to suffer the same fate inside T-Mobile Arena on March 8.

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Hill broke down the latest title fight in his division. Of note was his belief that Ankalaev’s striking threat is being wrongly counted out.

    “Magomed’s striking is seriously being slept on here,” Hill said. “I don’t believe that Pereira sits back and wants to fight out of the pocket. He wants to put the pressure on him and land good, hard shots on the outside. The problem with that is, Magomed is a counter striker.

    “If you look at his last few fights, he counters. He waits for you to throw, to overexert yourself, and even off of feints, if you feint and it puts your feet in the wrong spot, he’s countering you. He counters with combinations. They’re fast, and he mixes up his punches. So, he has a variety of strikes available at his disposal.”

    That, coupled with the Dagestani’s well-known grappling ability, has left Hill leaning on the challenger’s side with his prediction.

    “I know I’m going to get hate for this,” Hill stated. “But I get hate anyway, f*ck y’all. I’m probably going to go with Magomed. I’ve just got a feeling. … I feel he has more tools to win. Alex has that one-hit wonder…but I believe Magomed also has that.

    “He’s been in this position for. He let the title slip away, slip out of his hands once before. I believe he’ll be a lot more focused, locked in for this,” Hill continued. “Ultimately, he just has more ways to win.”

    Hill will look to stake his claim for a showdown with the winner down the line when he returns to action at the UFC Fight Night in Kansas City next month.

    After a loss to Jiří Procházka at UFC 311 this past January, “Sweet Dreams” is now tasked with dispatching of Khalil Rountree Jr. if he’s to avoid a three-fight losing skid.

  • Magomed Ankalaev Reveals Break From Ramadan Fasting For UFC 313

    Magomed Ankalaev Reveals Break From Ramadan Fasting For UFC 313

    Magomed Ankalaev is putting performance first by pausing his Ramadan fast to be in peak shape for his title fight.

    Ankalaev is set to headline UFC 313 this Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where he’ll challenge reigning light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira for the throne.

    The 32-year-old Dagestani fighter, a committed Muslim, received widespread praise when his fight was announced in January. The bout was set during Ramadan, a month of deep spiritual commitment in which Muslims refrain from eating and drinking during daylight hours for 30 days.

    Ankalaev shared that he has strictly followed Ramadan fasting since its start on Feb. 28. In the UFC 313 Countdown episode, he even suggested that the challenge of abstaining from food has, in fact, made him feel even stronger.

    However, during a recent interview with Ag. Fight, Ankalaev admitted that with fight night fast approaching and a grueling weight cut ahead, he has eased up on his Ramadan fasting to maintain optimal performance.

    “I have been following the fast strictly except for this week, where I will have to break it a few times because I need to make sure I drink water to have a successful weight cut,” Ankalaev said. “But apart from that, I started with Ramadan. I have been fasting. And after the fight, I will obviously also follow the rules of religion as it has to be.”

    Interestingly, Ankalaev’s remarks came just a day after “Poatan” accused him of leveraging his Ramadan fast for attention — suggesting that his opponent might be laying the groundwork for an excuse if he comes up short this weekend.

    Ankalaev heads into UFC 313 riding the momentum of a dominant unanimous decision victory over Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308 last October, pushing his unbeaten streak to 13 fights. This will be his second crack at UFC gold, having fought Jan Blachowicz to a draw in his first title bid at UFC 282 in December 2022.

  • Magomed Ankalaev: UFC Will ‘Appreciate Me’ After I Beat Alex Pereira

    Light heavyweight title challenger Magomed Ankalaev is aware that he’s not among the UFC’s favorite fighters. But at the very least, he expects to gain the “appreciation” of the higher-ups with his performance this weekend at UFC 313.

    Ankalaev is finally getting his second shot at the title, and first opportunity at handing champion Alex Pereira his opening defeat at 205 pounds.

    While Jamahal Hill, Jiří Procházka, and Khalil Rountree Jr. all failed in that quest last year, Ankalaev has been widely branded the biggest threat to “Poatan’s” reign owing to his wrestling prowess.

    But the Russian’s style has previously been under fire for a perceived lack of entertainment, something that has seemingly put the top contender out of favor with the UFC brass.

    During a recent media scrum ahead of UFC 313, Ankalaev acknowledged as much but outlined his plan to rectify that with an emphatic display inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on March 8.

    “I don’t know if they (UFC) appreciate me yet,” he said. “But after this fight, they will make sure to appreciate me.” (h/t TheMacLifePlus)

    The Dagestani’s first chance at top spot in the division came back in December 2022, when he and former champ Jan Blachowicz fought to a split draw.

    He enters his next opportunity off the back of victories over Johnny Walker and Aleksandar Rakić.

  • Magomed Ankalaev Criticizes Alex Pereira’s Charity Bet Proposal: ‘You Know Betting Is Forbidden In Islam’

    Magomed Ankalaev Criticizes Alex Pereira’s Charity Bet Proposal: ‘You Know Betting Is Forbidden In Islam’

    Magomed Ankalaev appears dismissive of Alex Pereira’s charity wager ahead of their title showdown.

    Ankalaev is set to challenge reigning light heavyweight champion Pereira in the main event of UFC 313 this Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

    The 32-year-old Dagestani has long campaigned for his shot at gold, and the prolonged booking has only added fuel to the fire. Bad blood has been brewing, with both fighters engaging in heated social media exchanges, openly dismissing each other in the lead-up to their showdown.

    On Sunday, “Poatan” threw down a challenge to Ankalaev and his manager Ali Abdelaziz on social media, urging him to back up his words with action. He proposed a high-stakes wager, stating that the victor should contribute $200,000 to a charity selected by the opponent.

    “Since you are so confident you will win, $200,000 to the winners charity of choice. Win or lose this will help those in need. It’s in your hands,” Pereira wrote on X.

    Ankalaev, a devout Muslim, scoffed at Pereira’s challenge, emphasizing that betting is strictly forbidden in Islam. He further stated that if he were to make any charitable donations, he would do so privately rather than seeking publicity.

    “As a Muslim you know betting is forbidden in Islam, and also as a Muslim every year I have to give 2.5% of my wealth to charity this is one of the five pillars of Islam. Many kids around the world are in need and we can do things after the fight but we don’t have to publicize it,” Ankalaev responded.

    Ankalaev then advised Pereira to leave the matter in the hands of their managers.

    “Your manager and my manager have a good relationship and we can let them handle that, see you soon. Ramadan Mubarak.”

    Ankalaev enters the bout riding a 13-fight unbeaten streak. He last competed at UFC 308 in October, where he secured a dominant unanimous decision victory over Aleksandar Rakic. The former WFCA champion previously competed for the 205-pound title against Jan Blachowicz at UFC 282 in December 2022, with the bout ending in a majority draw.

    Meanwhile, UFC 313 will mark “Poatan’s” fourth light heavyweight title defense. He last defended his crown in October at UFC 307, where he secured a dominant fourth-round knockout victory over Khalil Rountree Jr.

  • UFC 313 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Pereira vs. Ankalaev, Gaethje vs. Fiziev 2, And More

    UFC 313 Betting Odds: Current Favorites For Pereira vs. Ankalaev, Gaethje vs. Fiziev 2, And More

    UFC 313 is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for this weekend’s lineup.

    The upcoming pay-per-view takes place Saturday, March 8, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6:30 PM ET/3:30 PM PT.

    Topping the lineup will be reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira, who is tasked with getting the better of Magomed Ankalaev if he’s to record a fourth successful title defense.

    Before they go to battle, the co-main event will see a former interim champ in action as Justin Gaethje returns for his first fight since falling to a brutal knockout at the hands of Max Holloway last April. To put himself back into the title conversation, “The Highlight” must repeat his 2023 triumph over Rafael Fiziev, who’s stepped up on late notice to replace the injured Dan Hooker.

    Also set to make the walk on Saturday will be the likes of Jalin Turner, Amanda Lemos, Mauricio Ruffy, and Curtis Blaydes.

    UFC 313: Pereira vs. Ankalaev Betting Odds

    Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 313 (as of 3/3), courtesy of DraftKings.

    Main Card:

    • Alex Pereira (-115) vs. Magomed Ankalaev (-105)
    • Justin Gaethje (+120) vs. Rafael Fiziev (-142)
    • Jalin Turner (-102) vs. Ignacio Bahamondes (-118)
    • Amanda Lemos (+124) vs. Iasmin Lucindo (-148)
    • King Green (+360) vs. Mauricio Ruffy (-470)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Curtis Blaydes (-325) vs. Rizvan Kuniev (+260)
    • Joshua Van (-192) vs. Rei Tsuruya (+160)
    • Brunno Ferreira (+124) vs. Armen Petrosyan (-148)
    • Alex Morono (+500) vs. Carlos Leal (-700)

    Early Preliminary Card:

    • Mairon Santos (-355) vs. Francis Marshall (+280)
    • Djorden Santos (-192) vs. Ozzy Diaz (+160)
    • Chris Gutierrez vs. John Castañeda
  • VIDEO: UFC 313 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev

    VIDEO: UFC 313 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev

    Fight week for the UFC 313 pay-per-view this Saturday has kicked off with the release of the promotion’s latest Countdown episode. Under the spotlight in this edition is the headline clash between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev.

    Saturday’s UFC 313 lineup is topped by a championship contest, with light heavyweight kingpin Pereira (12-2) looking to add a fourth successful defense to his reign, which got underway with a knockout victory over Jiří Procházka at UFC 295 in November 2023.

    If the Brazilian is to continue his rule atop the 205-pound mountain, he must stall the title ambitions of a longtime foe in Ankalaev (19-1-1, 1 NC). The Dagestani has worked his way back to the gold after falling short in his first challenge against Jan Błachowicz in 2022, which ended in a split draw.

    Since a no contest against Johnny Walker further stalled his push up the ladder, Ankalaev has won two straight, brutally stopping Walker in their rematch before getting the better of the highly regarded Aleksandar Rakić in Abu Dhabi last October.

    The Russian standout will now look to do what Jamahal Hill, Procházka, and Khalil Rountree all failed to in 2024 by unseating “Poatan” from the light heavyweight throne.

    Ahead of that battle in Las Vegas, fans can catch a preview in the full episode of UFC 313 Countdown on the promotion’s official YouTube channel.

    UFC 313 Countdown: Full Episode

  • UFC 313: Magomed Ankalaev Seemingly Walks Back Stand And Bang Claim For Alex Pereira Fight

    UFC 313: Magomed Ankalaev Seemingly Walks Back Stand And Bang Claim For Alex Pereira Fight

    It appears that UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira will need to have his wrestling shoes on after all when he faces Magomed Ankalaev next weekend.

    Following action at the Apex on Saturday night, all eyes will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering, UFC 313 at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on March 8.

    Headlining will be Pereira’s first defense of 2025. After three straight wins last year to cement his status as 205-pound kingpin, “Poatan” will next meet the challenge of Ankalaev.

    The Russian has long been branded the biggest threat to the Brazilian’s reign, largely owing to his wrestling prowess. The challenger, however, has frequently vowed to get the better of Pereira on the feet.

    As many predicted, though, that proclamation looks to have been retracted…

    “CHAMA is a dead man walking,” he wrote on X. “I’m going to drown this man (wrestling emojis)”

    Ankalaev’s knockout power was on display when he stopped Johnny Walker early last year.

    But Pereira marks an entirely different beast on the feet, having stopped the likes of Israel Adesanya, Jamahal Hill, and Jiří Procházka with strikes and once reigned as a two-division Glory Kickboxing champ.

  • Alex Pereira Reassures Critics Of His Pre-UFC 313 Traveling: ‘I’ve Done This A Million Times’

    Alex Pereira Reassures Critics Of His Pre-UFC 313 Traveling: ‘I’ve Done This A Million Times’

    Alex Pereira is not even remotely concerned about naysayers claiming he’s not training hard enough for his upcoming UFC return.

    Pereira is set to put his light heavyweight title on the line for the fourth time as he faces Magomed Ankalaev in the main event of UFC 313, taking place on March 8 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

    In the lead-up to his fight, “Poatan” has faced intense scrutiny from the MMA community, particularly from UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier, who has questioned his commitment to training. Cormier and others argue that Pereira isn’t taking his upcoming bout seriously, citing his recent travels through Australia and seemingly carefree social media posts as signs of inadequate preparation.

    Earlier this month at UFC 312, the Brazilian champion traveled to Sydney to corner Sean Strickland in his title fight against middleweight king Dricus Du Plessis. However, Pereira maintains that his trip to the “Land Down Under” is not a distraction but a commitment he had made well in advance.

    In a recent interview with Bloody Elbow, “Poatan” reassured his skeptics that his team traveled with him to Sydney, ensuring he stayed on track with his fight camp. He drew parallels to a similar situation last year when he successfully took a short-notice rematch against Jiří Procházka at UFC 303.

    “What I can say to Cormier and a bunch of the other specialists that have been saying that I shouldn’t have gone out there: I’ve been in this situation before,” Pereira said through a translator. “It’s actually been worse before when I was in Australia and had signed up to fight, and didn’t even know I was going to fight. But this time it was all very planned out. I knew what I wanted to do, I took basically my whole team down there. There were eight people in Australia with me, so we knew exactly what we were doing, and we planned it all.”

    Pereira also reflected on his grueling travel schedule leading up to his 2016 kickboxing clash against Israel Adesanya in China, emphasizing that despite the demanding journey, it had no impact on his performance.

    “A lot of people are talking about the traveling and all of the trips. Maybe it’s not the ideal situation. But I feel like I’m very experienced with that, and I’ve done this a million times, to be honest.”

    Pereira is riding a five-fight win streak and was last seen in action at UFC 307 this past October, where he successfully defended his title with a dominant fourth-round TKO victory over Khalil Rountree Jr.

  • ‘That Makes Up For 312’ – Fans React To Reveal Of Full Main Card For UFC 313: Pereira vs. Ankalaev

    ‘That Makes Up For 312’ – Fans React To Reveal Of Full Main Card For UFC 313: Pereira vs. Ankalaev

    The main card for next month’s UFC 313 pay-per-view event has been confirmed — and fans are expecting violence.

    After a disappointing numbered event Down Under in Sydney, Australia earlier this month, the promotion’s March offering on PPV comes from within the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

    Two highly anticipated clashes are set to headline, with fan favorite Alex Pereira defending his light heavyweight title against Magomed Ankalaev in the main event and Justin Gaethje meeting Dan Hooker in a sure-fire barnburner at 155 pounds.

    During the broadcast of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night event at the Apex, the MMA leader confirmed which other three fights will go down on the UFC 313 main card, including two further lightweight bouts and a key contest at 115 pounds.

    • Light Heavyweight Championship: Alex Pereira (C) vs. Magomed Ankalaev
    • Lightweight: Justin Gaethje vs. Dan Hooker
    • Lightweight: Jalin Turner vs. Ignacio Bahamondes
    • Women’s Strawweight: Amanda Lemos vs. Iasmin Lucindo
    • Lightweight: King Green vs. Mauricio Ruffy

    Fans quickly flocked to social media to react, with the majority seemingly anticipating a much more electric card at UFC 313 than was delivered to Aussie fans at Qudos Bank Arena on Feb. 8.

    https://twitter.com/AintFredoYou/status/1890957073996767684
  • Magomed Ankalaev: Alex Pereira ‘Will Never Be The Same’ After UFC 313 Headliner

    Magomed Ankalaev: Alex Pereira ‘Will Never Be The Same’ After UFC 313 Headliner

    Magomed Ankalaev is determined to make a statement when he challenges UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira in the main event of UFC 313 on March 8. He isn’t just aiming for a victory — he wants to change Pereira’s career forever.

    Ankalaev enters the fight on a 13-fight undefeated streak. His last three bouts were a recent unanimous decision win against Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308 last October and a knockout victory over Johnny Walker at the start of 2024 after going to a no contest against the Brazilian months prior.

    On Sunday, the Russian took to X to issue a warning to Pereira.

    “This guy keep traveling and he forget he will be fighting for his life March 8,” he wrote. “He will never be the same after this fight. [Dana White], mark my word.”

    Ankalaev’s comment appears to be a jab at Pereira’s frequent travels, specifically referencing his recent trip to Sydney to support Sean Strickland at UFC 312. Pereira was in the corner for Strickland’s lackluster loss to middleweight champ Dricus Du Plessis.

    The upcoming challenger also criticized Pereira’s growing social media presence, likening him to a “TikTok chick.”

    “I never wanna hurt someone in my life like I want to hurt Alex,” he stated. “He is a fake humble boy.”

    “I’ve been climbing mountains, chopping wood, swimming in freezing lakes, and Alex has been dancing and making videos like a TikTok chick,” he added.

  • What’s Next After UFC 312? Current UFC 313 Card For Las Vegas On March 8

    What’s Next After UFC 312? Current UFC 313 Card For Las Vegas On March 8

    UFC 312 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering, UFC 313 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    The promotion was in Sydney, Australia this past week, where the Qudos Bank Arena played host to some intriguing matchups for its second numbered event of the new year. Of note were headline wins for Dricus Du Plessis and Zhang Weili, as well as victories for Tallison Teixeira and Jake Matthews.

    While the aftermath of the Feb. 8 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV — and from the middleweight title picture to the light heavyweight championship conversation.

    At UFC 313, set for the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on March 8, reigning kingpin Alex Pereira will open his account for the new year, once again in defense of his 205-pound gold. After consecutive victories over Jamahal Hill, Jiří Procházka, and Khalil Rountree in 2024, the Brazilian will next meet the challenge of Magomed Ankalaev.

    Gaethje vs. Hooker Sets The Stage For Title Headliner At UFC 313

    Stakes will also be high in the co-headliner, as top lightweight contenders Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker meet in a five-round battle that many expect to be in the conversation for Fight of the Year come the end of 2025.

    And that’s not the only sure-fire barnburner at 155 pounds. Also slated to collide at UFC 313 is veteran King Green and surging Fighting Nerds prospect Mauricio Ruffy.

    An important strawweight bout is also set, with former title challenger Amanda Lemos tasked with defending her position on the ladder against up-and-comer Iasmin Lucindo.

    See below for the UFC 313 card, as it stands.

    • Alex Pereira (C) vs. Magomed Ankalaev (light heavyweight championship)
    • Justin Gaethje vs. Dan Hooker (lightweight)
    • Amanda Lemos vs. Iasmin Lucindo (women’s strawweight)
    • King Green vs. Mauricio Ruffy (lightweight)
    • Brunno Ferreira vs. Armen Petrosyan (middleweight)
    • Bruno Silva vs. Joshua Van (flyweight)
    • Alex Morono vs. Carlos Leal (welterweight)
    • Chris Gutierrez vs. Jean Matsumoto (bantamweight)
    • Ozzy Diaz vs. Djorden Santos (middleweight)
    • Mairon Santos vs. Francis Marshall (featherweight)
    Justin Gaethje
    Image: UFC.com
  • VIDEO: Alex Pereira Sharpens Grappling Skills Ahead Of Magomed Ankalaev Title Defense

    VIDEO: Alex Pereira Sharpens Grappling Skills Ahead Of Magomed Ankalaev Title Defense

    Alex Pereira is smartly not taking Magomed Ankalaev’s previous comments as total fact. The two men are set to finally meet in the main event of UFC 313 on March 8 in Las Vegas in what many believe will be the defending champion’s toughest test to date.

    In recent times, Ankalaev has largely relied on his striking and whilst he hasn’t had a reason to abandon this approach because it has been working, everyone knows that he is a talented grappler even if he hasn’t shown that inside the Octagon for some time. In pursuing this fight with “Poatan”, the challenger has claimed that he is only going to stand and strike with Pereira which would seemingly put him at a disadvantage.

    Pereira has accomplished incredible things since signing with the UFC in 2021 but what makes his success even more impressive is that he’s still playing catch-up to the opponents that he faces who will have vastly more experience than him both in the cage and in the MMA gym. In a recent clip posted on social media, fans got to see some insight into the evolution of the 205-pound champion.

    The former Glory kickboxer recently spent some time training in Brazil alongside the Fighting Nerds team who have got some serious momentum behind them right now following star-making years for the likes of Jean Silva and Carlos Prates. The gym’s Instagram page posted a video of Pereira doing some grappling arounds alongside Geovanis Palacios who is a former Olympic wrestler for Cuba who has 7 MMA bouts under his belt.

    Pereira is already a master striker so it makes sense that he would be continuing to put himself through the grappling ringer just in case Ankalaev decides to flip the script that he has wrote himself in Las Vegas.

  • Magomed Ankalaev Warns Alex Pereira He ‘Just Signed His Death Certificate’ After UFC 313 Title Fight Booking

    Magomed Ankalaev Warns Alex Pereira He ‘Just Signed His Death Certificate’ After UFC 313 Title Fight Booking

    Magomed Ankalaev is vowing to make Alex Pereira pay after their highly anticipated title fight was officially confirmed.

    Ankalaev is primed to challenge reigning light heavyweight champion Pereira in the main event of UFC 313, set to take place on March 8 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    For Ankalaev, his long-awaited second title shot has been a journey months in the making, as he has been calling out “Poatan” ever since the Brazilian champion successfully defended his title against Jiří Procházka at UFC 303 this past June. However, the MMA promotion took an unexpected turn by booking Khalil Rountree to face Pereira at UFC 307 in October, only adding to the Russian’s mounting frustration.

    Subsequently, Ankalaev was matched up with Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308, where he delivered a dominant performance to further cement his status as the top contender for the title. Pereira cheekily teased him on social media, suggesting he had other opponents in mind for his next challenge. This sparked a wave of speculation from several fans and even the former title challenger himself, with many claiming that “Poatan” was attempting to sidestep their inevitable showdown.

    Following the announcement of their matchup during the UFC 311 broadcast this past weekend, Pereira took to X to deliver a message to his future opponent, writing, “See you soon, Ankalaev.”

    Ankalaev wasted no time firing back at Pereira, issuing a menacing ultimatum and mocking his past as a tire shop worker. He vowed to make the 205-pound champion regret allegedly stalling their upcoming bout.

    “You just signed your death certificate. I’m gonna punish you for ducking me, and I’m gonna make you look like a guy work in a tire shop not professional Fighter.” Ankalaev wrote on X.

    The 32-year-old Dagestani further asserted that he is far better prepared for this bout than Pereira.

    “Alex Pereira, he goes to all UFC fights to get free alcohol and get camera time. On the other hand, I’ve been training so hard. March 8, alcohol won’t help you. CHAMA.”

    Ankalaev is on an impressive 13-fight unbeaten streak, having secured two victories last year. He contended for the vacant light heavyweight title against former champion Jan Błachowicz at UFC 282 in December 2022, which ultimately ended in a draw.

    Meanwhile, Pereira enjoyed a remarkable 2024, successfully defending his title three times, with each victory punctuated by a spectacular knockout.

  • ‘Free Money On Poatan’ – Fans React To Magomed Ankalaev Opening As Betting Favorite To Beat Alex Pereira At UFC 313

    ‘Free Money On Poatan’ – Fans React To Magomed Ankalaev Opening As Betting Favorite To Beat Alex Pereira At UFC 313

    The release of opening odds for the recently announced UFC 313 headliner between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev have raised some eyebrows.

    Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight champion, had his first assignment of 2025 announced during the broadcast of UFC 311 on Saturday night. “Poatan” was present as his long-awaited battle with Ankalaev was made official.

    Following months of back and forth on social media and questions surrounding his next step, the Brazilian has been lined up to face the consensus top contender in the main event of UFC 313 in Las Vegas on March 8.

    As always, the fight news was quickly followed by the release of opening odds. And interestingly, despite his impressive streak of successful title defenses in 2024, Pereira is the underdog.

    On BetOnline.ag, the champ opened at +170, with the challenger’s line reading -200.

    That split opinion online, with many expressing their confidence in Pereira maintaining his place on the light heavyweight throne come fight night at T-Mobile Arena.

  • Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev Official For UFC 313 On March 8

    Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev Official For UFC 313 On March 8

    At UFC 313, Alex Pereira will defend his light heavyweight title against the number one contender at 205 pounds, Magomed Ankalaev.

    This long-awaited clash will headline the promotion’s return to the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on March 8 as the 2025 calendar continues to take shape.

    The fight was made official during the UFC 311 broadcast and is certainly one that fight fans have been eagerly anticipating.

    Many believe that Ankalaev has long deserved another shot at the title following his unbeaten streak in the division. He solidified his spot by beating Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308 last October to make him undeniable.

    In order to secure UFC gold for the first time, he will need to end the incredible winning streak of “Poatan,” who successfully defended the title three times last year. Since moving up to light heavyweight, Pereira has won five fights in a row but many believe that Ankalaev will be his toughest test to date.

    Jon Anik also confirmed a five-round co-main event for March 8 between fan favorites Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker at lightweight.

  • ‘Bet The House On Ankalaev’ – Fans Debate Alex Pereira Being Favorite To End 2025 As UFC LHW Champion

    ‘Bet The House On Ankalaev’ – Fans Debate Alex Pereira Being Favorite To End 2025 As UFC LHW Champion

    The odds are in for the UFC’s champions in 2025, and betting lines for a number of divisions have stirred debate.

    As always, titles are expected to change hands on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage in the new year. DraftKings doesn’t, however, have the light heavyweight class as one in which a new kingpin could be crowned.

    Opening odds for who will have UFC gold in their possession in 12 months’ time recently emerged, with Alex Pereira set as the favorite to be occupying the 205-pound throne at the end of 2025.

    For that to be the case, the Brazilian would seemingly need to get past the challenge of top contender Magomed Ankalaev. The Russian has long staked his claim for a shot at Pereira, and despite the champ pointing to a different assignment next time out, many still expect the one-time challenger to get his opportunity this year.

    The odds have Ankalaev as the second favorite to finish 2025 as the UFC light heavyweight titleholder at +195, being pipped to the post by “Poatan’s” -120 line.

    That, in addition to the figures beside names like Khamzat Chimaev, Jamahal Hill, and Jan Błachowicz, have split opinion in the MMA community online.

    https://twitter.com/michaeljdr77/status/1875678189395354109
    https://twitter.com/mma_zay/status/1875729388186300608
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  • Manager Explains Magomed Ankalaev’s Confidence About KOing Alex Pereira: ‘He Said…Izzy Can’t Even Wash My Boots In Striking’

    Manager Explains Magomed Ankalaev’s Confidence About KOing Alex Pereira: ‘He Said…Izzy Can’t Even Wash My Boots In Striking’

    For a long time now, fight fans have theorized that Magomed Ankalaev is the biggest threat to the current light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira. The #1-ranked contender has beaten a lot of top opposition but it was his recent win over Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308 which seemingly solidified his status as the next in line at long last.

    However, the Rakić fight did also raise some concerns regarding the way that Ankalaev might approach a clash with “Poatan”. Throughout 2024, Ankalaev was very clear on the idea that in a fight with Pereira, he would stand and strike with him, believing that he would knock the champion out whilst many have made the case for why this wouldn’t be a smart approach.

    The Russian traded with Rakić for all three rounds this past October even after he lost the first five minutes because he didn’t attempt to test his opponent’s grappling and though he came out on top, he was clearly going out of his way to prove a point. Ankalaev has shown himself to be a very effective striker but in the current titleholder, you’re talking about a hall of fame level kickboxer.

    Ali Abdelaziz spoke in a recent interview with MMA Junkie about the confidence of the challenger right now in regards to his striking. As the manager of the number one contender, he said that his fighter is convinced that he will shock the world by stopping “Poatan” without using his grappling when they eventually go head-to-head.

    “Ankalaev, what he told me, he said, ‘I’m not wrestling with [Pereira]. I’m gonna show everybody. Izzy can’t even wash my boots in striking. I’m gonna knock Alex Pereira out. Get the respect I’ve deserved for a long time.’ It’s a long task to strike with [Pereira] and knock him out. But I believe Ankalaev can do it.”

  • Aljamain Sterling Predicts The Four Most Likely New UFC Champions In 2025

    Aljamain Sterling Predicts The Four Most Likely New UFC Champions In 2025

    A lot can change across 12 months in MMA which means that at the start of 2025, it’s time to speculate about what the year has in store for fight fans. Aljamain Sterling did just that via his podcast where he went division by division to pick out names that could become UFC champions by the end of the year.

    The former UFC bantamweight champion picked out four names contenders who he believes have the potential to dethrone the current titleholders in their respective divisions. He started at flyweight where a recently reported clash for March 1 between the #1 and #6-ranked competitors will likely decide the next opponent for Alexandre Pantoja.

    “I can see Manel Kape as 125. Dude, he’s just a super fun fighter to watch. He’s very well-rounded, his ground game might be as good as his standup but he’s very well-rounded. If he can keep the fight standing long enough, he’s clean enough where I think he actually gives Pantoja a run for his money.”

    Sterling also named a challenger who has already had his title fight made official for the first PPV card of the year. Though he didn’t necessarily pick Arman Tsarukyan to beat Islam Makhachev in their lightweight title rematch, “Funkmaster” believes that he has a good chance of doing it.

    “Arman Tsarukyan I think has a very great potential for an upset in January and that’s just based on how he looked when he fought Islam the first time, how he’s looked over the years, growing, and he was only 22.”

    The final two picks on Sterling’s list came down to the two heavyweight weight classes in the sport. If there was a consensus list from the fans, you’d probably expect to see both Magomed Ankalaev and Tom Aspinall make the cut.

    Ankalaev is believed to be the toughest test for Alex Pereira and in Aspinall’s case, he might not even get the chance to fight Jon Jones before being promoted to the world champion if there title unification never takes place.

    “I could see Ankalaev becoming champ in 2025. I could see that.

    “Heavyweight I think Tom Aspinall. I don’t see Jon Jones sticking around much longer. I think he does one more fight whether it’s against Pereira or Tommy Aspinall but I think at some point, Tommy Aspinall will become the undisputed champion.”

  • Alex Pereira Reveals Magomed Ankalaev Isn’t Getting Next Title Shot, Ankalaev Cries ‘Chicken’

    Alex Pereira Reveals Magomed Ankalaev Isn’t Getting Next Title Shot, Ankalaev Cries ‘Chicken’

    While it’s not clear who he’ll be fighting first in 2025, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira says it won’t be the man many see as his biggest threat in the division.

    “Poatan,” a former titleholder at 185 pounds, enjoyed a standout year in the Octagon. After being crowned a two-division king last November, the Brazilian successfully defended the 205-pound gold three times in 2024.

    Knockout wins over Jamahal Hill, Jiří Procházka, and Khalil Rountree have left Pereira as a leading candidate for Fighter of the Year. But there remains one point of discussion used by his limited group of detractors.

    Even prior to his win over Aleksandar Rakić in October, Ankalaev was seen by many as the most deserving of a title shot. With that not coming to fruition, some concluded that the promotion has been looking to ‘protect’ Pereira from the well-rounded game of the Russian.

    And that fire has now had considerable fuel thrown on it.

    Despite Ankalaev’s unbeaten run and place on the light heavyweight ladder, Pereira has seemingly heard from the promotion that he won’t be stood opposite the Brazilian next time out.

    “It won’t be Ankalaev!” the light heavyweight titleholder wrote on X.

    It didn’t take long for a frustrated Ankalaev to appear in the comments section, once again accusing Pereira of deliberately avoiding him by branding the champ a “chicken.”

    “Chicken”

    With a clash with Ankalaev seemingly out of the running, it remains to be seen what will come next for Pereira.

    Given that the Russian sits as the clear top contender at 205 pounds, “Poatan’s” recent post could suggest a much-discussed heavyweight venture in pursuit of historic three-weight glory.

  • Jan Błachowicz: Magomed Ankalaev Must ‘Change’ To Have A Chance Of Beating Alex Pereira

    Jan Błachowicz: Magomed Ankalaev Must ‘Change’ To Have A Chance Of Beating Alex Pereira

    Following his win over Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308 in October, it looks like the next time that we see Magomed Ankalaev, he will finally get his long awaited title shot against Alex Pereira. Many expected that this would be the next test for “Poatan” following his wins over Jamahal Hill and Jiří Procházka earlier this year but instead, he defended the title at UFC 307 by finishing Khalil Rountree Jr.

    In Abu Dhabi, Ankalaev got his hand raised once again after sticking to his word and beating Rakić over three rounds by only striking with him. The Russian has continued to push the idea that when he eventually faced Pereira, he will do the same and will knockout the kickboxing specialist to win the 205-pound gold.

    One fellow top contender who doesn’t think this that applying the same approach is the best idea is the former champion, Jan Błachowicz. In his last outing at UFC 291, “Polish Power” became the closest of anyone to beating Pereira at light heavyweight when he welcomed the former middleweight champion to his new weight class.

    Błachowicz came out on the wrong side of a split decision and though he wasn’t able to land a lot of offense, he did have some success with his grappling and once he became tired, he was able to avoid eating anything too damaging from the Brazilian. Błachowicz gave his thoughts on that potential title fight in a recent interview with James Lynch for Home of Fight.

    He believes that in order for Ankalaev to leave with the title, he needs to take more risks to really put a stamp on the fight instead of simply trying to win each round without taking damage.

    “If Ankalaev will fight like last fight with [Aleksandar] Rakic, he’s going to lose the fight. He needs to do something more. He needs to be like, I don’t know, but – he is good fighter, but it’s not enough for Pereira in this kind of style. He needs to change.

    “He needs to be more – he has to believe in that which he’s doing. I think he doesn’t believe. He just wants to win the fight, but don’t take too much punches. He is very careful in this what he’s doing and I think this kind of way, fighting with Pereira, will not work.”

  • Only UFC Fighter to Beat Magomed Ankalaev on What Could Cost Him in a Fight With Alex Pereira

    Only UFC Fighter to Beat Magomed Ankalaev on What Could Cost Him in a Fight With Alex Pereira

    At UFC 308, Magomed Ankalaev seemingly cemented his status as the next man to challenge Alex Pereira for the light heavyweight title. Aside from one draw and a no contest, the Russian contender has won eleven fights in a row inside the Octagon and has waited a long time for his opportunity.

    In his latest win in Abu Dhabi last month, he stuck to his word by standing and striking with Aleksandar Rakić for three rounds in order to prove a point about his well-rounded skill set. Ankalaev’s striking has certainly improved during his time in the UFC but there’s no denying that his grappling is still his strongest attribute, even if he doesn’t use it much.

    Ankalaev’s one and only loss in the UFC came on his debut with the promotion where he faced Scotland’s Paul Craig in London. “Bearjew” was coming off of consecutive knockout losses at the time so needed a win in order to keep his UFC dream alive.

    Despite being moments away from losing the fight, he incredibly pulled off a buzzer beater submission with just one second left on the clock, catching Ankalaev in a triangle choke. Ahead of his return at UFC 309 this weekend where he faces Bo Nickal at middleweight, Craig gave his thoughts on Ankalaev’s chances of becoming the champion in a recent interview with talkSPORT MMA.

    Craig believes that his former foe is in a good position to dethrone “Poatan” but he cannot afford to go into this fight with the same stubbornness that will see him strike with the champion rather than utilizing his grappling.

    “When you bring in someone like the Dagestanis who have incredible wrestling pressure and work ethic, it’s tough. Do I think Ankalaev can beat Pereira? I do believe he can. I believe he’s got all the credentials as long as he doesn’t go into this thing where he believes he’s a striker. You stand in front of someone with a kickboxing pedigree that Pereira has and I believe it can be a 50:50 lottery sometimes. Ankalaev, if he plays his skill set well and uses his wrestling and uses his striking to get in deep and out wrestle, I believe that’s how he can get that victory.”   

  • Magomed Ankalaev Becomes Latest To Brand Jon Jones ‘Scared’ Of Tom Aspinall, Champ Hits Back

    Magomed Ankalaev Becomes Latest To Brand Jon Jones ‘Scared’ Of Tom Aspinall, Champ Hits Back

    The pressure on UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones to fight Tom Aspinall is continuing to mount just days away from his first title defense.

    Jones will return to the cage 20 months on from his crowning in March 2023, when he debuted at heavyweight by rapidly submitting Ciryl Gane to capture the then-vacant belt.

    While his first challenger was also penciled in last year, an injury forced Jones out of a Madison Square Garden headliner opposite the returning Stipe Miocic. A year on, the pair will give their matchup another go in the main event of UFC 309 at MSG.

    That, however, is despite the presence of an interim titleholder in Aspinall, who had gold wrapped around his waist after knocking out Sergei Pavlovich in their late-notice clash last November, which replaced the original Jones vs. Miocic showdown.

    Having also defended his strap in the months since, Aspinall has plenty of backers when it comes to his calls for a unification fight. But not only did Jones dismiss that for his upcoming defense, he’s also seemingly planning to either hang up his gloves or target the champ from below, Alex Pereira, should he get past Miocic on Saturday night.

    “Bones” has been responding to much criticism online for that stance, and though that’s seen him hit back at fans for the most part, his latest back and forth came with the top contender in the division he formerly ruled.

    Commenting on a social media post detailing Jones’ recent remarks about favoring a clash with “Poatan” over his interim counterpart, Magomed Ankalaev joined in with those suggesting the Rochester native is ducking Aspinall.

    “Sound like someone (scared) of big TOM,” Ankalaev wrote.

    It didn’t take long for Jones to take notice of the Russian’s words, branding him ‘jealous’ and challenging the surging light heavyweight to replicate his résumé on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    “Magomed jealousy won’t earn you legend status, my friend,” Jones wrote. “Train harder, hate less. Want to truly insult me? Break some of my records first. Let’s get started.”

    It stands to reason that Aspinall will be a prominent topic throughout UFC 309 fight week, especially given the interim champ’s presence in New York City as the backup fighter for the main event.

  • Magomed Ankalaev Continues To Berate Alex Pereira: ‘Willing To Fight Everyone Short Notice But Me’

    Magomed Ankalaev Continues To Berate Alex Pereira: ‘Willing To Fight Everyone Short Notice But Me’

    When Belal Muhammad was announced to have withdrawn from his upcoming welterweight title defense at UFC 310, everyone had the same thought. If the UFC needed someone to step in and save the main event, there was only one name they could call.

    The biggest argument for Alex Pereira being the 2024 fighter of the year is that he has stepped up and delivered for the UFC when they needed him most on several occasions. “Poatan” has already saved two big cards in UFC 300 and UFC 303 but doing it again would have been unthinkable.

    It also appeared from his social media that his likely challenger, Magomed Ankalaev, was down to make a quick turnaround from UFC 308 to fight on December 7 in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, it now looks like Pereira’s last fight against Khalil Rountree in October will stop him from doing that.

    During a recent appearance on the Podpah podcast, Pereira revealed that he’s dealing with a hand injury after Rountree was able to withstand a lot of damage before being stopped in the fourth round.

    “In that 4th round, I was throwing jabs and it was hurting my hand man, I swear. I was thinking ‘my hand must be broken’. It still hurts today. It’s not that bad, but if I touch right here it hurts.”

    Though Pereira has fought through injuries in the past, “Poatan” faces a tough test in Ankalaev who he’ll surely want to be at his best for. This was echoed in Ankalaev’s response to the video on social media.

    The top light heavyweight contender replied to Pereira’s comments and claimed that the champion knows that he can’t risk it this time around unlike some of his previous fights.

    “Willing to fight everyone short notice but with me, he knows he have to be ready he’s not stupid”

  • Alex Pereira Approached To Save The Day — Again — After UFC 310 Loses Main Event

    Alex Pereira Approached To Save The Day — Again — After UFC 310 Loses Main Event

    The UFC has reportedly turned to a familiar face in Alex Pereira after losing its headline attraction for the final pay-per-view event of the year.

    Reports emerged on Thursday regarding a potential injury suffered by UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad, who was booked to headline UFC 310 in Las Vegas on Dec. 7 in defense of his title against Shavkat Rakhmonov.

    “Remember the Name” subsequently confirmed the disappointing news on social media, posting an image of a gruesome bone infection that hospitalized him and will keep him out of training for the next six weeks.

    With that, the promotion will need to secure a new headline matchup to close out its PPV schedule for 2024. And when it comes to saviors, no one has fit the description in 2024 quite like “Poatan.”

    Pereira, a former UFC middleweight champion and the reigning light heavyweight kingpin, has had a bumper year inside the Octagon, reeling off three straight title defenses in record-breaking speed to establish himself as one of the sport’s biggest stars.

    The manner of his first two defenses only added to the plaudits thrown his way, with Pereira saving the promotion after a struggle to secure a suitable UFC 300 main event and the withdrawal of Conor McGregor from UFC 303 less than three months later.

    Having added the name of Khalil Rountree to his reign’s list of victims at UFC 307 earlier this month, it appeared that Pereira would finally be due a long-earned rest.

    While that still might be the case, MMA Mania is reporting that “Poatan” has indeed been contacted about headlining UFC 310 against Magomed Ankalaev in light of Muhammad vs. Rakhmonov being off.

    The welterweight number one contender seemingly has something to say about that, however. After wishing his injured opponent well on X, “Nomad” called to remain on the UFC 310 card in competition for an interim welterweight strap.

    It remains to be seen whether Muhammad will be out for long enough to warrant the creation of another belt. But should no other options come to fruition for the Dec. 7 headline slot, the promotion has previously shown a willingness to add interim belts to the equation in such scenarios.