Last weekend at UFC 303 there was a title fight in the light heavyweight category. Brazilian Alex Pereira entered the rematch with Jiri Prochazka and confidently completed the second defense of the belt, knocking out the Czech at the beginning of the second round.
Pereira’s stock price has skyrocketed to unprecedented levels. He’s saving top tournaments, scoring spectacular knockouts and becoming a superstar. Poatan isn’t that far away from a historic campaign for a third belt in the heavyweight division. This has never happened in UFC history and it’s unknown if it will happen. However, even at 93kg, Pereira has work to do one way or another.
Alexa Pereira after the fight with Jiri Prochazka
Photo: Ian Maule/Getty Images
Magomed Ankalaev has an impressive unbeaten streak, is ranked in the top two of the division and is a legitimate contender for the belt. Some even consider the Russian a champion without a belt, recalling the strange draw with Jan Blachowicz. In fact, Ankalaev is another beneficiary of the result of the rematch between Pereira and Prochaska. If Jiri had won, then with a high degree of probability there would have been a trilogy. Now, behind the champion’s back there is only Ankalaev and then there is emptiness.
Alex has already expressed his willingness to fight any fighter who is put against him. And Ankalaev issued a whole series of posts on social media related to the potential fight: “Alex, congratulations champion, I am very impressed, but boss Dana White always says that this is a sport of opportunity, and all I want is an opportunity. And I don’t need a fight, I have enough punches to test your chin. I think I will knock you out. Two years ago, Alex Pereira was not ready to fight me, but I think today is the toughest fight in the division for me, as I am for him. Guys, believe me, I will knock Alex out, I don’t need to fight him to do this, he has a weak jaw. But at the same time I know he is very dangerous. All these guys in the top 5 were knocked out. I am the best light heavyweight on the planet, none of these guys are at my level and now I am going to fight the champion. I think he is not as afraid of me as the others. Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, New York, Las Vegas, it doesn’t matter. I’ll win by knockout anywhere, anytime. Get ready, Alex!
Prohaska has already beaten Ankalaev once:
Why is Prohazka valued more than Ankalaev? The samurai deprived the Russian of his title
If we look at the top 5, we will be convinced that there are no other contenders. Prochazka was knocked out twice and is coming to the end of the line, Jamal Hill was also knocked out and is also injured, so he is out. Blachowicz is recovering from two surgeries and also lost to Pereira, and Aleksandar Rakic is on a two-fight losing streak.
Yes, a rematch with Blachowicz is theoretically possible because of how close his first fight with Pereira was. But no one is interested in such a rematch except the Pole himself. UFC simply has no other choice: Ankalaev must get a title shot. Moreover, Magomed was very lucky that the fight between Pereira and Prochazka happened in June. If the organization of this revenge had dragged on, say, until the fall, then Ankalaev would have had to fight someone anyway. Perhaps Hill. And now she and Pereira have their schedules aligned and they could meet at the end of the year.
Any other decision with any other fight for Poatan is absurd. In addition, Ankalaev did something important: he moved away from the strange demand to fight in Abu Dhabi. This is still the preferred option, but Magomed added that he is ready to fight anywhere. This is already the right approach, because the challenger should not choose a place and demand that the champion adapt to it. Now the fight could well take place, for example, in New York at UFC 309.
Magomed Ankalayev
Photo: Fake Images
As for the odds, Ankalaev is the favorite, but Pereira is still very scary for absolutely any fighter in the world. Magomed posts alarming messages that he is ready to compete with Alex on the stands. This is a mistake; you cannot go to the camp of such a skilled beater and try to outfight him there. Ankalaev even offers a “deal” – 15 minutes without takedowns.
However, everything could change with Pereira’s first punch. Blachowicz also promised to try his kick, but in the eighth second he fell to his feet. The Brazilian didn’t even need to punch. If Ankalaev gets a well-deserved title shot, he must make the most of it and fight precisely to his strengths and Pereira’s weaknesses. Otherwise, if he fails, he will have to wait a long, long time for the next opportunity.
