Bruce Lee, the legendary martial artist turned actor, famously said, “I fear not the man who practiced 1,000 kicks… but I fear the man who practiced one kick 1,000 times.” But is that always the case? According to former 205lbs champ and Alex Pereira’s arch nemesis Jamahal Hill, the answer is no. ‘Sweet Dreams’ believes a more varied arsenal makes a fighter truly dangerous. However, recent memory says something else entirely! We are of course talking about Pereira’s lethal left hook. It is no secret that the reigning 205lbs gold standard has demonstrated the sheer destructive power of this punch in the last four years.
His knockout victories over top fighters like Sean Strickland, Jiri Prochazka, and the aforementioned Hill are undeniable proof of its power. However, this devastating punch carries its risks—if the Brazilian misses, it can leave him vulnerable. Yet, thanks to his quick reflexes and unwavering focus, he rarely misses his mark. Now, the ‘Poatan’ is preparing to face top contender Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 this Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
And joining the bandwagon of opinions on the clash, Hill unsurprisingly backed the Dagestani. The former champ highlighted Ankalaev’s versatility in both striking and wrestling as key to his success. “I just got a feeling that, um, I feel he has more tools to win. Obviously, Alex has that one-hit wonder; if he catches you, he can put you away. I believe Magomed also has that. He has his speed, the patience, the counter. He’s been in this position before, and he let the title slip away once before… I believe he just has more ways to win, so I’m going with Magomed Ankalaev,” Hill said.
MMA: UFC 295 – Prochazka vs Pereira Nov 11, 2023, New York, NY, USA Alex Pereira blue gloves walks away from the octagon with the light heavyweight championship belt after beating Jiri Prochazka red gloves during UFC 295 at Madison Square Garden. New York Madison Square Garden NY USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xWendellxCruzx 20231112_pjc_cc1_105
Magomed Ankalaev is being billed as one of the most difficult matchups for Alex Pereira, thanks to his lethal combination of elite striking and powerful wrestling. A seasoned practitioner of Greco-Roman wrestling and combat sambo, the Dagestani holds the esteemed title of “Master of Sports” in combat sambo from Dagestan State University.
Moreover, the #1 ranked 2o5fer notably displayed his wrestling skills during his title fight against Jan Blachowicz at UFC 282 which ended in a draw. This presents an interesting chain of events to unfold this Saturday given that Ankalaev has reversed his earlier stance of not using wrestling against Alex Pereira and now appears determined to take the fight to the ground.
Magomed Ankalaev took a U-turn on his no-wrestling approach against Alex Pereira
Initially, many viewed wrestling as Alex Pereira’s weaker point, given his kickboxing-heavy background. However, when his fight against Magomed Ankalaev was announced, the Dagestani export stated clearly that he would compete against Pereira in the striking department. “Alex Pereira, I’ll make a deal like I did with Johnny Walker, but this time it’s all about kickboxing. I’m going to test your jaw.” Ankalaev hinted, aiming to destroy ‘Poatan’ just as Israel Adesanya did against the Brazilian at UFC 287. But with the fight now less than a week away, the Dagestani has reconsidered his approach.
Knowing Pereira’s glorious kickboxing career, which includes 33 wins out of 40 fights and two-time Glory Kickboxing middleweight champion status, Magomed Ankalaev realized that striking alone may not be enough. As the fight draws nearer, Ankalaev appears to have shifted his focus to grappling. What matters more to him now—his ego or the 205lb championship title? Clearly, it’s the title.
MGM Grand Garden Arena LAS VEGAS, NV – December 9: Magomed Ankalaev steps on the scale for the ceremonial weigh-in at MGM Grand Garden Arena for UFC 282 -Blachowicz vs Ankalaev: Ceremonial Weigh-ins on December 9, 2022, in Las Vegas, NV, United States. Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages Louis Grasse / SPP PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxBRAxMEX Copyright: xLouisxGrassex/xSPPx spp-en-LoGr-lrg2212091337822_UFC282_weighins
Last week, the #1 ranked 205fer revealed his new strategy: “As we’ve said before, opinions can shift, and people say what they feel they need to. But it’s not that I’m solely focusing on wrestling him. I’m not underestimating my striking skills. I can stand and trade with him, and I can wrestle with him. What’s clear to me is that this is the most important fight of my life. Opportunities like this are rare, and I’ll do whatever it takes to win—whether that means striking or wrestling.”
What’s your take on the highly anticipated Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev clash at UFC 313? Do you believe the Dagestni prospect will be able to effectively utilize his full range of skills against the Brazilian when they face off inside the Octagon this Saturday night? Share your thoughts below.
The post “Alex Has That One Hit” – Magomed Ankalaev Has ‘More Tools’ to Beat Alex Pereira at UFC 313 Claims Bitter UFC Rival appeared first on EssentiallySports.