The aftermath of the UFC 313 headline fight between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev is still fresh, but the two are already gearing up for a rematch. Why not? The contest ended with a close scorecard (48-47, 48-47, 49-46), with many feeling that Pereira had the upper hand that night. Despite the close score, ‘Poatan’ lost his light heavyweight title to the Russian Powerhouse, who made history as the third Dagestani fighter to claim a UFC championship, following Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev.
But Magomed Ankalaev’s desire for a rematch seems fueled by more than just the title. Ankalaev and his coach, Shukhrab Magomedov, have begun stoking the flames of tension for their next encounter. The coach stirred controversy by accusing Pereira of greasing his body during their first fight. “When Magomed pushed him to the fence near our corner, it seemed to me that Pereira had some kind of substance on him,” Magomedov remarked.
A few days later, Magomed Ankalaev added fuel to the fire, saying, “I have a date and I’ve already accepted… This time, there will be no five rounds, I don’t get paid by the hour,” signaling his intention to finish Alex Pereira early. Ankalaev has now officially set the timeline for their rematch, posting on X, “August, but please #noVaseline.” He also shared, “I see all my kids in London, having fun, but I’m back in the gym already. See you soon, boys.”
August, but please #noVaseline
— Muhammad big ANK Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM) March 21, 2025
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The post Alex Pereira Gets 4 Months to Stage a Comeback as Magomed Ankalaev Gives Timeline for Rematch appeared first on EssentiallySports.