Ali Abdelaziz isn’t happy that Magomed
Ankalaev was bypassed for a light heavyweight title shot at
UFC
307.
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Ankalaev is 10-0-1 with one no contest in his last 12 Octagon
appearances, but the Dagestani standout won’t be facing reigning
champion Alex
Pereira at UFC 307 on Oct. 5 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Instead,
that opportunity went to Khalil
Rountree, who has won five straight in UFC competition but also
recently failed a drug test.
“Certain fighters have a long road to the title, like Khabib
[Nurmagomedov], like Kamaru
Usman, like Islam
Makhachev. But when they get there, they become dominant,”
Abdelaziz recently told ESPN. “Listen, the UFC has different views
about what they want to do with Alex Pereira. They want him for
Utah. Magomed Ankalaev will fight in Abu Dhabi, in his market he
fights in. Magomed has a new deal he’s very happy with. He deserves
a title shot.”
Pereira vs. Rountree Jr. Saturday at 10 ET on ESPN+. Order
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Ankalaev, who is coming off a second-round knockout of Johnny
Walker at UFC Fight Night 234, will face Aleksandar
Rakic at UFC 308
in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 26. If he wins that fight, as Abdelaziz
expects, perhaps his next championship opportunity will arrive. The
Dominance MMA founder is confident that Pereira will also take care
of Rountree at UFC 307, setting the stage for a “Poatan” vs.
Ankalaev showdown sometime next year.
“It’s bulls–t he’s not getting a title shot. ‘He just fought for
the title, too.’ This is kind of what the UFC said. But the
reality, I believe he’s the best light heavyweight on the planet,”
Abdelaziz said. “I know it, you know it, Dana White knows it, Mick
Maynard knows it. Alex Pereira became a big star – you can’t take
this away from him. The guy is always game to fight. But every road
has an end. Magomed Ankalaev will handle business, Alex Pereira
will handle business, and these two guys will fight in 2025.”