Magomed Ankalaev, the Dagestani UFC light heavyweight contender, has publicly accused current champion Alex Pereira of avoiding a matchup with him. Ankalaev believes he is entitled to a championship clash with the Brazilian for the divisional belt. The tension escalated when Pereira expressed interest in pursuing a boxing match, following a suggestion from heavyweight boxing great Anthony Joshua.
In a since-deleted tweet, Ankalaev took aim at Pereira, stating, “@AlexPereiraUFC One more UFC champion wants to run to boxing because he knows he’s going to lose his belt next.”
Despite Ankalaev’s recent victory—a thunderous second-round knockout of Johnny Walker at UFC Vegas 84—the promotion has not yet confirmed his title shot. Meanwhile, Pereira is eyeing a potential move to heavyweight, considering matchups against interim champion Tom Aspinall or the division’s undisputed king, Jon Jones.
Magomed Ankalaev reacts to Alex Pereira expressing interest in a boxing fight 😬#UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/WMFSatCFrT
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) July 7, 2024
Is Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev Happening?
Ankalaev continues to prod and poke Pereira for a title fight, as the light heavyweight top five lacks other compelling challengers. Notably, Jiří Procházka and Jamahal Hill have both suffered knockout losses to Pereira, while Jan Błachowicz and Aleksandar Rakić face their own challenges.
In response to Pereira’s interest in boxing, Ankalaev boldly promised to knock the former kickboxer unconscious within a round, emphasizing that Pereira needs his biggest challenge in life—not boxing.
Popular opinion suggests that Ankalaev should avoid engaging Pereira in a striking battle and instead focus on takedowns and wrestling. As the feud intensifies, fans eagerly await a potential showdown between these two talented fighters.
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