Pereira Denies Ducking Ankalaev – ‘He Didn’t Want It’
Alex Pereira denies ducking Magomed Ankalaev as the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion defended his next fight.
Pereira knocked out Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303 to successfully defend his title. He will defend the belt against Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307 on October 5. Khalil has five wins on the spin, with four coming by knockout. However, Ankalaev is seen as the bogeyman in the division. The Russian is undefeated in his last 12 fights, with ten wins, a no-contest and a draw. He has not tasted defeat since his debut loss against Paul Craig in 2018. He will fight Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 308 on October 26 in his next fight. However, Anakalev called Pereira a chicken for not fighting him next, as the Brazilian reacted.
Pereira On Ankalaev
“A lot of people ask me, I always wanted to fight against Ankalaev. I threw that to the organization, left it very clear, but Ankalaev didn’t want to fight against me. I don’t know the reason, if it was the location, if he just didn’t want to. He isn’t the champion. He can’t pick anything.
“I think it’s the opportunity that shows up. He didn’t want it. He has his reasoning. I don’t know what it is. I came to tell you guys I’m not scared of anyone. Everyone knows my history, everything I’ve done, who I went against – not just in MMA but kickboxing. It’s obvious that I want to fight this guy,” Pereira said
However, Alex has been linked with several other weight classes. He indicated his desire to move down to middleweight once Dricus Du Plessis submitted Adesanya to win a fourth-round submission at UFC 305. He aimed to secure the belt he had lost against Israel Adesanya at UFC 287 when the Nigerian knocked him out. While Du Plessis was open to a fight, the South African wanted the fight at light heavyweight.
Pereira Vs. Du Plessis
“If [Sean] Strickland is the next fight that people want to see that fight – that’s the fight people want to see and that’s the fight people think is the next best guy – then that’s the fight that I want. So let me handle my business, you handle your business. 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 revealed
Pereira has also been linked with a move up to heavyweight. The Brazilian hinted that could come about after stopping Jiri at UFC 303. However, Pereira only aimed to do so for the title. Dana White has dismissed a fight with Jon Jones, meaning Pereira could take that step if Tom Aspinall becomes a champion. Ankalaev merely felt that Pereira was looking for a way to avoid getting into a fight; he denied suggestions that he refused to take the fight.
“AlexPereiraUFC you are a liar. You said I turned (fight) down against you. @danawhite @Mickmaynard2 never offer me a fight against you. I’m gonna make you eat your word after I handle my business,” Ankalaev stated
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