Ankalaev Calls Pereira A Chicken – ‘Mention My Name, I’m Gonna KO’
Magomed Ankalaev has labelled Alex Pereira a chicken as the light heavyweight continues to make noise in the division.
Pereira is the current champion after knocking out Jiri Prochazka in his last fight at UFC 303 to retain his lightweight heavyweight belt. It was the second time Alex had stopped him following his win at UFC 295. Now, Pereira will fight Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307. Khalil is on a five-fight win streak, stopping his last four opponents. However, there is an argument that Ankalaev should have gotten the fight instead.
The Russian has not lost since making his UFC debut in 2018 against Paul Craig in 2018. Since then, he has won 10 out of his next 12 bouts. The other two were a draw and a no-contest. Ankalaev will fight Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 308 on October 26 in his next bout. A win will increase the pressure on Alex to face him. Now, Ankalaev has thrown down the gauntlet.
Ankalaev On Pereira
“@AlexPereiraUFC biggest chicken in the Ufc he call out guys middleweight he 40 pound more than them I am the only guy he doesn’t even mention my name I promise I’m gonna handle my business in October and I’m gonna knock you out under 2 round,” Ankalaev said
However, Pereira’s focus appears elsewhere. He indicated he wants to move down to middleweight after Dricus Du Plessis beat Israel Adesanya at UFC 305. The South African secured a fourth-round submission to retain his middleweight belt. Alex was the former champion before he got knocked out by Adesanya at UFC 287.
The rematch never happened, but Alex moved up to light heavyweight and became a two-weight champion after beating Prochazka. Du Plessis has responded by stating that he wants the fight at light heavyweight. That gives the South African a chance to chase a second title. He has already beaten the big names at middleweight, such as Sean Strickland, Robert Whittaker, and Adesanya.
Pereira Vs. Du Plessis
“I honestly don’t think Alex Pereira should drop down to 185. If he wants to? Great. Perfect. But then we’re going to hear the excuses. I saw Izzy stiff that man in the (second) round. I felt Izzy’s punching power. Izzy has great timing. He’s fast, he’s long and he has great combinations, but I felt the power.
“If Izzy stiffens you like that, you do not want to be there in with me – especially not when you’re going to come with the excuse of, ‘I cut too much weight.’…You don’t have to cut the weight to have some sort of excuse. I’ll come up after the Strickland fight. I’ll come up to 205 and we’ll sort it out there,” Du Plessis stated
But if Pereira faces Du Plessis, it will play into the narrative that he is ducking Ankalaev. Dana White has ruled out a Pereira fight with Jon Jones, meaning the Brazilian cannot gain weight. Alex already stated he would only move up for a title that would rule out a Tom Aspinall fight. If Ankalaev continues winning, the Brazilian will have to face him.
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