Alex Pereira expressed his views on Magomed Ankalaev, stating that the Russian fighter is not the toughest opponent he has faced so far. This opinion came after Pereira’s loss to Ankalaev at UFC 313 earlier this year, where the latter claimed the light heavyweight title by unanimous decision. Pereira maintains that he has battled tougher rivals in his professional career despite the defeat.
At UFC 313, the main event saw Pereira defending his light heavyweight belt against Ankalaev, but the Russian contender dominated the fight and earned a clear victory. This result ended Pereira’s reign as champion and sparked widespread anticipation for a potential rematch, though no official confirmation has been made. Ankalaev has shown eagerness to face Pereira again soon, but the former champion has delayed any quick return, provoking some criticism from the current titleholder.
Assessing the Challenge: Pereira’s Thoughts on Facing Tough Opponents
In a recent interview with The Schmo, Pereira was asked directly if Ankalaev was the toughest adversary he has encountered in his career. He responded by acknowledging that the circumstances of their UFC 313 bout made Ankalaev a challenging opponent on that day but insisted that he had experienced opponents of greater difficulty before. Pereira stated,
“I’ve definitely fought tougher opponents. The situation itself on that day (UFC 313), the circumstances, made him a hard opponent. But I’ve definitely fought people way harder than him.” —Alex Pereira
During the title fight, Pereira struggled to find his rhythm and was unable to inflict significant damage on Ankalaev, resulting in a performance below his usual standard. At 37 years old, Pereira is aiming to recapture the form he showed last year, when he secured impressive victories over Jamahal Hill, Jiri Prochazka, and Khalil Rountree Jr.
Plans for a Comeback and Future in Light Heavyweight Division
Following speculation about Pereira potentially moving up to heavyweight, especially after Tom Aspinall became the undisputed light heavyweight champion following Jon Jones‘ retirement, Pereira clarified his intentions. Despite the buzz around a possible heavyweight run or challenging Aspinall, Pereira remains focused on regaining his light heavyweight crown from Ankalaev.
In an interview with MMA Fighting at Fanatics Fest, Pereira outlined his comeback timetable and prioritized his fight against Ankalaev. He said,
“Anywhere around the timeframe [of] September, October, November, for me it makes no difference, I want to fight. My focus right now is fighting Ankalaev… get my belt back, and then we see what happens after…Let those guys kill each other in that weight class. Right now I’m just focusing on light heavyweight.” —Alex Pereira
This statement clarifies Pereira’s current mindset as he prepares for his return to the Octagon. His goal is clear: reclaim his title at light heavyweight before contemplating further challenges or possible weight changes.
The significance of Pereira’s outlook lies in his determination to correct what happened at UFC 313 and restore his status as champion, which will be closely followed by fans and analysts alike. A rematch with Ankalaev appears to be the logical next chapter in Pereira’s career, promising another intense encounter between the two fighters.