As UFC 313 draws near, the stakes in the title showdown between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev continue to rise. Many UFC veterans believe this will be Pereira’s toughest test yet, while Ankalaev has received his fair share of warnings about stepping into the cage with the devastating striker. With emotions running high, this fight is shaping up to be one of the most volatile matchups of the year. But what about Ankalaev’s promise to knock Pereira out? Has that changed? Yes—it has.
With 205lbs gold in his mind, the Dagestani has decided to approach the fight differently. His focus is singular: victory at all costs. He’s prepared to adapt his game plan and take the fight wherever necessary to get the win. Speaking to former double champ and analyst Daniel Cormier, Ankalaev, through a translator, laid out his strategy: “We are gonna use everything in this fight. We are gonna use all of the aspects—we’re gonna do striking, we’re gonna do grappling, we’re going to do wrestling. We’re going to use all of our weapons, everything that we have in our arsenal, and we’ll see what works best for us. We’ll use that to get to the victory.”
March 9, 2022, Las Vegas, Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, United States: LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 9: Magomed Ankalaev interacts with media during the UFC Fight Night 203 Media Day at UFC Apex on March 9, 2022, in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Las Vegas, Nevada United States – ZUMAp175 20220309_zsa_p175_015 Copyright: xDiegoxRibasx
However, Brendan Schaub isn’t convinced this is a good matchup for Pereira. The former MMA fighter and comedian made it clear that he desperately wants Pereira to win—not just for the Brazilian’s legacy, but also for the UFC’s future. Schaub believes that if Pereira loses, Ankalaev will become his ‘Achilles heel’, derailing one of the sport’s biggest stars.
“They can’t create a star out of Ankalaev, you just can’t. Alex is your biggest star. This is his fourth title defense in under a year. … We’ve never seen anything like this. He’s also 37, so there’s not a lot of juice left in that towel to keep squeezing out,” Schaub explained to MMA Fighting.
But Ankalaev isn’t fazed by the narrative surrounding Pereira’s star power. He shut down any doubts about his threat level, responding via MMA Fighting: “But it just happened that destiny put the two of us together, and unfortunately, he’s going to have a real tough time to get to that goal because he’s got me in front of him.”
This fight is undoubtedly the biggest challenge of Ankalaev’s career, and he’s proving his commitment by competing during Ramadan, a time that presents unique challenges for Muslim fighters. However, tensions rose further when Pereira accused him of using Ramadan as an ‘excuse’—a remark that didn’t sit well with the Dagestani.
Magomed Ankalaev claps back at Alex Pereira’s accusations
As UFC 313 draws near, tensions between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev continue to rise, with a new controversy adding fuel to the fire. In a recent interview with Ag Fight, Pereira suggested that Ankalaev might be using Ramadan as an excuse in case things don’t go his way on fight night. While the Brazilian emphasized that he wasn’t trying to disrespect anyone’s religious beliefs, he raised doubts about Ankalaev’s fasting discipline.
“But today I went to get my lunch boxes, the UFC lunch boxes and there were two bags with several lunch boxes with his name on them, and all by appointment. He’s not doing that (fasting). He’s deceiving people and talking to have an excuse later,” Pereira claimed.
The Dagestani powerhouse wasted no time in firing back, addressing the comments during UFC 313 media day. He remained composed, brushing off Pereira’s remarks. “Yeah, I mean, he’s worried about me and what I’m doing. And he seems to be nervous, so he’s following all these things, and I mean, what can I say?” Ankalaev responded.
While he acknowledged breaking his fast, he made it clear that this wasn’t a decision taken lightly. “I’ll tell you again, I had to break the fast a couple of times because there’s something I need to do to make the weight and to be prepared.”
Making 205 lbs requires extreme discipline, and cutting weight while fasting is a dangerous gamble. Ankalaev understands the risks of dehydration, and prioritizing his performance on fight night became his most important goal. However, the Dagestani couldn’t resist throwing a playful jab at Pereira:
“I mean, even if he goes to a fridge right now and he opens the food, he’ll see that there’s food with my name on it. The UFC food that was given to me—if he wants, he can take it.”
At the end of the day, Ankalaev is focused on the fight, not the war of words. Breaking his fast may not have been ideal, but neither is stepping into the Octagon dehydrated against one of the most dangerous strikers in the world. So, will the Dagestani silence the doubters and take the throne, or will Pereira continue his reign of dominance? Drop your predictions in the comments below!
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