Newly-minted gentle heavyweight kingpin, Magomed Ankalaev has now modified tune on his rivalry with Alex Pereira — claiming the Brazilian star “deserves” an instantaneous rematch with him following their UFC 313 determination.
Ankalaev, who challenged Sao Paulo knockout ace, Pereira earlier this month, ended the previous two-weight champion’s reign at 205lbs, delivering a controversial unanimous determination win within the pair’s long-anticipated championship conflict.
And initially welcoming a showdown with the Brazilian within the instant aftermath, Ankalaev then flip-flopped, claiming he can be open to combating Pereira sooner or later — however possibly not as quickly as his first title protection.
Moreover, Ankalaev vowed to go away little doubt if he meets the previous middleweight champion once more, claiming he wouldn’t let the pairing go to the choose’s scorecards this time round.
“I’m ready for round 6 but this time will not go for full distant (sic) let’s go guys,” Magomed Ankalaev posted on his official X account in a single day.
Magomed Ankalaev claims Alex Pereira “deserves” instant rematch
And on social media this afternoon, Makhackala native, Ankalaev provided to combat Pereira instantly — amid hyperlinks to an October return in Abu Dhabi, UAE — claiming the previous champion now “deserves” an opportunity to regain the crown.
“Alex (Pereira) when you’re ready to go again,” Magomed Ankalaev posted on his official X account this afternoon. “You deserve this.”
Alex while you’re able to go once more You deserve this
— Muhammad massive ANK Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM) March 18, 2025
Nevertheless, forward of a rematch, Ankalaev has been warned by Pereira’s workforce {that a} new model of the kickboxing ace with await him within the Octagon in the event that they meet one another once more.
“Rivalries make us grow,” Plinio Cruz mentioned. “It went his (Magomed Ankalaev) way this time, so we’ll train more, study more, get better, to deliver you a better version of Poatan. More mean. What this guy’s done was make it worse for him because now he’ll fight ‘Poatan 2.0.’ It’s happened to Poatan before, it’s not the first time, and a true champion is the one that stumbles but continues moving forward and reconquers it.”
