More than halfway into 2024, top contender Magomed
Ankalaev has vowed to knock out
UFC light heavyweight champ Alex
Pereira before the year ends.
Advertisement
Ankalaev is the only one of top contenders in the division who
hasn’t fallen prey to Pereira. After recently defeating former
champ Jiri
Prochazka for the second time at UFC
303, Pereira will most likely face Ankalaev next.
However, Ankalaev has been levelling shots at Pereira since
“Poatan” merely asked Anthony
Joshua’s to suggest potential opponents for a future boxing
move.
“[Alex
Pereira] kept away from me for a reason, and I do understand
this is business,” Ankalaev wrote on X. “[In the UFC the] best
fight the best, and he is the best for now. I will keep my work. I
will knock him out. [Mick Maynard] [Dana White] nothing better than
you’ve seen an event somebody going to sleep.”
@AlexPereiraUFC
kept away from me for a reason, and I do understand this is
business @ufc best fight
the best and he is the best for now I will keep my work. I will
knock him out. @Mickmaynard2
@danawhite
nothing better than you’ve seen an event somebody going to
sleep— Magomed Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM)
July 9, 2024
Ankalaev has also consistently downplayed Pereira’s proven knockout
power. Despite being a seasoned grappler, Ankalaev is willing to
stand up with Pereira and vows to knock out the former Glory
kickboxing champ by the end of the year.
“End of the year he’ll be laying on his back looking at the light
and ask his corner, are we back in Brazil,” Ankalaev wrote. “This
is a promise. I will knock him out.”
@Mickmaynard2
@danawhite
I will do the same thing to Alex. I promise you. https://t.co/fz3mBikwfW— Magomed Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM)
July 9, 2024
End of the year he’ll be laying on his back
looking at the light and ask his corner, are we back in Brazil this
is a promise. I will knock him out.— Magomed Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM)
July 9, 2024
Pereira’s UFC 303 win over Prochazka marked his second successful
light heavyweight title defense — all via knockout. In an
unprecedented rise to stardom, “Poatan” has now fought in five UFC
title fights, winning four of those bouts in less than three
years.
Meanwhile, Ankalaev recently had to overcome an unlucky stretch
despite being undefeated since a last-minute upset loss against
Paul
Craig in his UFC debut in 2018. Ankalaev’s bid at the vacant
title was foiled by a split draw against Jan
Blachowicz at UFC 282 in December 2022. His next outing against
Johnny
Walker in October 2023 ended in an unfortunate no contest due
to an illegal knee from the Russian. Ankalaev settled the Walker
rivalry with a second=round TKO win in their rematch this past
January.