Fight Night Showdown: Magomed Ankalaev Takes On Alex Pereira

Magomed Ankalaev is stepping out of his usual quiet demeanor. This time, he's taking a more aggressive approach. He's been known for his calm and collected attitude. He rarely engages in trash talk before his fights. Even when he faced Thiago Santos, a dangerous knockout artist, Ankalaev remained calm and focused. He absorbed Santos' powerful shots and eventually won the fight. But now, things are different. Ankalaev is taking a more personal approach. The upcoming fight is against Alex Pereira. Ankalaev has been making personal remarks about Pereira's past. He mentioned Pereira's struggle with alcoholism in a tweet. He even said that he signed Pereira's "death certificate. " This is a rare side of Ankalaev. He's usually shy and reserved. But this time, he's taking a different approach. The crowd at the UFC 313 pre-fight press conference was all for Pereira. They chanted 'Chama' as he stepped on the stage. But Ankalaev received nothing but boos. This is a fighter who has been on a long unbeaten streak. But he had to wait longer than expected for his title opportunity. The UFC seemed eager to capitalize on Pereira's reign. Injuries to Pereira also played a role in the delay. This prolonged timeline has contributed to Ankalaev's change in attitude. During the press conference, a reporter asked Ankalaev if he thought he would send Pereira back to working in a tire shop. Ankalaev didn't hold back. He said that he was planning on dominating Pereira. He said that Pereira would have to decide if he stays in the sport. This question and Ankalaev's response likely struck a nerve with Pereira. He had a tough upbringing. He left school at 12 and worked in a tire shop. He earned 68p a day. But he looks back at those days with reverence. He learned discipline and hard work. But he also struggled with alcoholism. He eventually found his way into kickboxing. He went pro in 2013 and became a Glory champion by 2017. Five years later, he won his first UFC title. Ankalaev's personal remarks didn't stop there. After the fight was announced, Pereira tweeted "See you soon Ankalaev. " Ankalaev responded with a fiery message. He said that he would punish Pereira for ducking him. He also took another shot at Pereira's past. He said that Pereira went to all UFC fights to get free alcohol and camera time. Ankalaev has been calling Pereira out for a while. He claims that he could defeat him. But the fight kept getting delayed. Now that it's set, Ankalaev is trying everything to get into Pereira's head. Ankalaev is coming off a win over Aleksandar Rakic. He has not lost a bout since March 2018. He's on a run of 13 fights. Pereira, on the other hand, successfully defended his title against Khalil Rountree Jr. He's on a five-fight winning streak. But Ankalaev is not fazed by the hostile reaction from fans. He claims that after the fight, everyone will love him. Pereira is a black belt in BJJ. But he lacks elite wrestling skills. Ankalaev, on the other hand, is a balanced fighter with wrestling in his arsenal. Neither of the fighters has a win via submission. Ankalaev is also fasting during Ramadan. This requires fasting from dawn till dusk. Ankalaev had to make some big sacrifices. He had to break a couple of fasting sessions to drink a lot of water and make the weight. He said that Pereira was worried about him. He said that Pereira was following all these things. He said that Pereira was nervous. But Ankalaev is ready for the fight. He's confident that he can win. The fight is set for March 8, 2025. There's a lot at stake for Ankalaev. If he wins, he'll get to sit on the LHW throne. He'll be the first fighter to have defeated Pereira at the 205-pound realm. If Pereira wins, he might get to the top of the P4P rankings. The outcome of the fight is uncertain. But one thing is for sure. It's going to be an exciting match.