ABU DHABI – [autotag]Aleksandar Rakic[/autotag] sees his UFC 308 matchup with Magomed Ankalaev as a prime opportunity to shake up the light heavyweight title picture.
Given his 12-fight unbeaten streak in the division, many expected Ankalaev’s (19-1-1 MMA, 10-1-1 UFC) next fight be a shot at reigning 205-pound champ Alex Pereira. It didn’t happen, though, and the promotion instead booked him against Rakic (14-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC) on Saturday’s card at Etihad Arena on Yas Island (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN+).
UFC CEO Dana White has said that Ankalaev will get his title shot if he wins in solid fashion. But Rakic has other plans.
“I was happy,” Rakic told MMA Junkie on Tuesday. “UFC gives me the opportunity to fight against the No. 2-ranked guy, against Ankalaev, and he was supposed to fight. There were rumors,he was supposed to fight Pereira. But when I got the name, I immediately said yes. You know why? Because I think I put a good show at UFC 300 against Jiri Prochazka, and that’s the reason they chose me to fight Ankalaev.
“I take this chance really serious. I’ve been working hard for this one. On social media, I was seeing everything going back and forth with Ankalaev and Pereira. I didn’t want to say anything. My main focus was to train hard, to get ready for Ankalaev, to be 100 percent focused for him, and just to do a show on Saturday and crash the party.”
Ankalaev has spent most of the build to UFC 308 taking shots at Pereira (12-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) online and in interviews. Rakic said he hopes his opponent “underestimates” him going into the octagon this weekend but doesn’t think that’s going to be the case.
Rakic, 32, is expecting the best version of Ankalaev, 32, when they step in the cage. That would only elevate the value of a victory.
“He’s the most well rounded guy in the division besides me,” Rakic said. “I’m expecting an MMA fight. I think he will try to strike, he will try to grapple and wrestle. But I did my homework. I have been through hell the last weeks, and I did everything to have an answer to everything Ankalaev can bring.”
Rakic said he’s not looking past UFC 308 but is no doubt keen on the idea of getting his shot at Pereira. “Poatan” has run through most of the division’s top contenders already despite being champion for less than a year, and Rakic would represent a fresh face to fight for gold.
“He did great things in the light heavyweight division,” Rakic said. “He’s the most active champion we have right now in the UFC. He beat some really good names. I think the most important thing with Alex is to mix it up. Of course, everyone says, ‘Go wrestle him. Go grapple him.’ But, of course, he trains wrestling and grappling, as well, and he knows some defense and how to defend a takedown. It would not be so easy like the people would be thinking it would be.
“He has great kickboxing, but it’s all about the details. We are in the top five. He is the champion. We are all very good fighters, and there is no better league than UFC and no better fighters than the UFC has. So with Alex, you need to be conditioned and very ready and you need to mix things up.”
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 308.