Not everyone from Brazil will be on Alex
Pereira’s side this Saturday.
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After a meteoric rise that saw him capture
UFC belts in two divisions, “Poatan” has become perhaps the
biggest idol of MMA in Brazil today. When he steps into the Octagon
to make his fourth title defense against Dagestan’s Magomed
Ankalaev at UFC 313,
Pereira will certainly have the gigantic Brazilian audience behind
him.
Two Brazilians, however, are exceptions and will certainly be on
Ankalaev’s side: UFC veteran and Porrada Training Center leader
Ronny
Markes, and former
Professional Fighters League heavyweight champion Bruno
Cappelozza. Both Markes and Cappelozza recently signed with the
Global Fight League.
Markes recently explained how the partnership with Ankalaev
began.
“The first time Ankalaev trained with us here at Porrada TC was in
2021,” Markes told Sherdog.com. “But he also trained at Xtreme
[Couture]. For this fight, however, he trained the last three weeks
only with us. We tried to help him with the grappling part, but
there were [also] some very good striking guys here at the gym like
[Alexander] Volkov, Cappelozza — and sparring with them was very
good for Ankalaev.”
Cappelozza, who won the PFL heavyweight crown in 2021, was
impressed by Ankalaev.
“Although he comes from sambo, his strong point is striking. But
without a doubt, he is complete in all areas,” Cappelozza said.
Cappelozza then pointed out what he thought would be the key to
Ankalaev defeating Pereira in the UFC 313 headliner.
„His grappling skills, not his jiu-jitsu itself,” he said. “I mean
his wrestling is really good, mainly attacking take downs and going
to the back. I don’t know if he will fight five rounds of striking
with ‘Poatan.’ But I’m sure he will start exchanging blows, and as
the fight goes, he will mix throw attempts and striking. Also, he
is such a nice and respectful guy. I was happy to have trained
with him.”
Markes does not believe that observing Ramadan will significantly
impact Ankalaev’s performance.
„He spent most of the camp eating normally, since Ramadan started a
few days ago and only had an impact on his last week of training,“
Markes said.
Markes decline to offer a prediction for the title fight.
“He [Ankalaev] is very fast for the weight class, especially in the
game of getting in and out,” Markes said. “From what I saw in
sparring here, I believe he will do exactly what he promised [keep
the fight standing]. I am rooting for Ankalaev to win, but honestly
I think it will be 50-50.“
Despite the support of the two Brazilians, neither will be in
Anakalaev’s corner.
„Cappelozza and I support him in training,” Markes said. “But due
to the communication barrier, since he doesn’t speak English well,
the ones who will be with him in the corner are his coaches from
Dagestan.“