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Alex Pereira, also known as ‘Poatan,’ is preparing to defend his light-heavyweight championship for the third time this year in a highly anticipated bout against Khalil Rountree Jr. The fight is set to take place at the end of this week. Since the start of his mixed martial arts (MMA) career, the Brazilian fighter has faced some of the sport’s most formidable opponents, quickly rising through the ranks. In a stunning feat, Pereira became a dual-weight champion after only seven fights, adding to his impressive résumé which already includes victories over champions like Israel Adesanya, Sean Strickland, Jamahal Hill, Jan Blachowicz, and Jiri Prochazka.
Despite Pereira’s success, another fighter, Magomed Ankalaev, feels the reigning champion is deliberately avoiding him. Ankalaev, hailing from Dagestan, has been vocal about wanting a shot at Pereira’s title, and tensions between the two have been simmering since Pereira defended his belt against Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303 in June. After that victory, Ankalaev expressed his desire to face the champion, but his callout seemed to go unanswered by both Pereira and the UFC. This lack of response from the promotion has led to growing frustration for Ankalaev, especially as UFC 307 was headlined by Pereira’s upcoming fight against Rountree, which further sidelined his hopes for a title shot.
The tension escalated when Pereira recently addressed the issue during an interview with MMA journalist Kevin Lole. In the conversation, Pereira acknowledged that he would be willing to fight Ankalaev, but he also blamed Ankalaev’s “boring” fighting style for why UFC president Dana White has not been eager to make that fight happen. Pereira remarked, “You gotta sort that out with the organization, you know what I mean? So, bro, honestly, it’s not my fault that Ankalaev has such poor style fighting that nobody wants to watch.”
However, Pereira emphasized that he was ready to face Ankalaev if the UFC decided to put the fight together. He added that the match would provide a perfect opportunity to showcase his ground game, an area of his skill set that some critics have questioned. This statement, unsurprisingly, did not sit well with Ankalaev, who responded on social media, calling out Pereira and questioning the legitimacy of the champ’s willingness to fight him.
Ankalaev took to his X (formerly Twitter) handle, writing, “Alex have 6 KO in UFC I have 6 KO He knows why he’s not fighting me and fighting the number eight guy let’s be real focus on your fight. I will do the same. We will see after if you will accept good luck, champ.” Ankalaev highlighted their comparable knockout records and suggested that Pereira’s choice to fight Rountree instead of him was an intentional avoidance. However, despite Ankalaev’s claims, it’s worth noting that Pereira has fought tougher opponents throughout his career, which gives him a slight edge in terms of his résumé.
As of now, the big question remains whether Pereira and Ankalaev will eventually meet in the octagon. Many fans and analysts believe that such a matchup is inevitable, given their respective dominance in the light-heavyweight division. According to Ali Abdelaziz, Ankalaev’s manager, it’s only a matter of time before Ankalaev gets his shot at Pereira. Abdelaziz is confident that Ankalaev will face Pereira after the Dagestani fighter takes care of his next opponent, Aleksandar Rakic, at UFC 308.
Abdelaziz has been vocal about Ankalaev deserving a title shot, stating, “It’s bulls–t he’s not getting a title shot. ‘He just fought for the title, too.’ This is kind of what the UFC said. But the reality, I believe he’s the best light heavyweight on the planet. I know it, you know it, Dana White knows it, Mick Maynard knows it. Alex Pereira became a big star – you can’t take this away from him. The guy is always game to fight. But every road has an end. Magomed Ankalaev will handle business, Alex Pereira will handle business, and these two guys will fight in 2025.”
Ankalaev’s last title shot came at UFC 282, where he fought Jan Blachowicz to a draw. A victory against Rakic could solidify Ankalaev’s claim for another title opportunity. However, it remains to be seen if Ankalaev can secure the win and if Pereira will indeed accept a fight against him. For now, all eyes are on their upcoming fights, as the light-heavyweight division continues to heat up. What are your thoughts on this brewing rivalry? Share your opinions in the comments below.