Tag: Magomed Ankalaev

Chael Sonnen advises Alex Pereira against Magomed Ankalaev rematch

Chael Sonnen thinks Alex Pereira immediately rematching Magomed Ankalaev is a bad idea.

[autotag]Chael Sonnen[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] immediately rematching [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] is a bad idea.

Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) lost his light heavyweight title to Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) by unanimous decision in the UFC 313 main event earlier this month at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

All signs are pointing to Pereira getting an opportunity to avenge his loss to Ankalaev next, but Sonnen warns him against that option. “Poatan” stuffed all 12 of Ankalaev’s takedowns, but was outstruck and controlled in the fight.

Sonnen sees a rematch likely going the same way.

“I’m a very big Alex Pereira fan, on a personal level, but also his work inside the cage,” Sonnen told Submission Radio. “I’ve got to tell you, there is nothing within that first fight – whether illness, injury, or a combination of both – there was nothing about that first fight that would lead a reasonable analyst to believe you’re going to have a different outcome in the second fight. … That first fight was 4-1. It was four rounds to one. It really was not overly competitive. There were some really well things done by Pereira, such as stopping the takedowns. We didn’t know that he had this ability. It was a pretty slow pace and there wasn’t a lot done.

“I’m just suggesting there was nothing we saw that would make us think that even at a slow pace, even at a drawn down action-packed night or lack thereof, there’s nothing to believe that Rounds 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are going to be any different. Whatever it is that Pereira is supposed to have learned in that job experience, why would we not believe an equal amount would be learned by Ankalaev? Whatever we’re supposed to believe that Pereira gained to do a better job next time, why do we not believe that Ankalaev also? Ankalaev is the one that had his takedowns stuffed. So in theory, he’s the one that would have felt and known where the adjustments are to get the big guy off his feet. And once he gets him on the ground, I can’t imagine that’s where the judges are going to see it his way.”

Sonnen says history proves that Pereira could still land big opportunities off of a loss – but off of two?

“It is a surprise and I think it’s a risk,” Sonnen said. “The way we got Pereira to 205 pounds is contrary to what people remember. Most people’s minds have played a trick on them. People believe Pereira got to 205 because he cleaned out 185, and that is not accurate. He got beat. When he got beat at 185, and he no longer has the belt, he no longer has to stay as the head of the division. He is free like anyone else to go anywhere that he wants. So if we wanted to get him to heavyweight, it wasn’t by beating Ankalaev, thus cleaning out 205.

“It would’ve been to get him beat, which we did. Our opportunity to bump him up to be able to take on the winner of a (Jon) Jones vs. (Tom) Aspinall or any scenario, be a backup fighter … the way to do it has already been done, and I’m not certain we should not have taken full advantage. The fight was close. He stopped the takedowns. It added to the story. Let it go. There was nothing embarrassing about it. But if you rematch and you drop two straight, particularly if it’s dominant, that’s where some embarrassment does set in.”

[lawrence-related id=2813799,2811625,2811426,2810426]

Alex Pereira: Team Magomed Ankalaev’s greasing accusation an excuse for failed takedowns at UFC 313

Alex Pereira fired back at Magomed Ankalaev’s coach for accusing him of greasing at UFC 313.

[autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] fired back at [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag]’s coach for accusing him of greasing at UFC 313.

Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) lost his light heavyweight title to Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) by unanimous decision in their main event earlier this month at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

In an interview with Ushatayka, Ankalaev’s coach Sukhrab Magomedov accused Pereira of being sticky and having ointment on his body to help him defend takedowns. He even claimed that Pereira’s mentor Glover Teixeira was known to grease.

Pereira stuffed all 12 of Ankalaev’s takedowns, but denies trying to gain an unfair advantage.

“Absolutely did not put anything on my body,” Pereira said on “The Ariel Helwani Show” through an interpreter. “The way his coach is putting it, it sounds to me that he’s trying to make an excuse to justify the fact that he trained a guy to take me down, but the guy got stuffed for 12 of his takedown attempts. It’s like you’re in a company, you mess up, and you don’t do what you’re supposed to do, and then you try to make excuses to justify that. Absolutely didn’t put anything on my body.

“You also have to ask his coach if we put oil and vaseline on the mats too, because is that why Ankalaev fell on his back? He got taken down like that? It upsets me because even in my Glory career, I never did anything I wasn’t supposed to do. If you watch the one time that I got a point taken away, it was because the referee was saying there was too much clinching when there was not, but I always did everything by the book, and that’s why everything’s worked so good in my career.”

Pereira and Ankalaev are expected to rematch, with UFC CEO Dana White confirming that it will probably happen. Even Ankalaev acknowledged that “Poatan” is the most deserving of a shot.

[lawrence-related id=2812795,2811625,2811426,2810426]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 313.

Magomed Ankalaev praises Carlos Ulberg for UFC London win, but says Alex Pereira most deserving

Carlos Ulberg’s UFC Fight Night 255 win wasn’t enough to get Magomed Ankalaev’s attention.

[autotag]Carlos Ulberg[/autotag]’s UFC Fight Night 255 win wasn’t enough to get [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag]’s attention.

Ulberg (12-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) made it eight-straight wins when he defeated former champion Jan Blachowicz (29-11-1 MMA, 12-8-1 UFC) in Saturday’s co-main event at The O2 in London. The City Kickboxing standout thinks he’s done enough for a title shot, but UFC light heavyweight champion Ankalaev thinks otherwise.

Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) sees [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) as most deserving after he dethroned him to become champion at UFC 313 earlier this month.

“Good win for Carlos but Alex is next. He deserve it more than anyone.”

Ulberg’s win over Blachowicz also left Ankalaev with an opinion on his division.

“Alex different level than all these guys.”

[lawrence-related id=2812240,2810426,2810421]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 255.

Jamahal Hill on one major adjustment Alex Pereira needs to make for Magomed Ankalaev rematch

Jamahal Hill advises Alex Pereira to focus on one particular thing if he wants to reclaim UFC gold.

[autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] needs to focus on one particular thing if he wants to reclaim UFC gold.

Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) lost the light heavyweight title to [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) by unanimous decision in the UFC 313 main event earlier this month at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Although Pereira surprised many with his ability to stop all 12 of Ankalaev’s takedown attempts, he wound up getting outstruck on the feet. The pair are expected to have an immediate rematch after UFC CEO Dana White approved of the idea after the fight.

Hill, who predicted an Ankalaev win at UFC 313, thinks “Poatan” can’t be nearly as tentative with his offence if he wants to avenge his loss.

“I think he can, I think he’s very capable of making the adjustments that he needs to make to win that fight,” Hill told Home of Fight on Pereira. “He’s going to have to be locked into the gym to where he don’t get tired, he’s going to have to up his cardio a lot because his output is going to have to go up. His output with the kicks, adding more kicks and working a lot more of having a higher volume with kicks in this fight would get it done. But, we’ll see.”

It appears wheels are already in motion for a rematch, with Ankalaev already claiming that a date has been offered.

“I have a date and I accepted already, I hope my opponent will accept too. This time there will be no 5 rounds, I don’t get paid by the hour #BigANK.”

[lawrence-related id=2811426,2811503,2810426,2809950]

Tom Aspinall surprised ‘uneducated fans’ thought Alex Pereira beat Magomed Ankalaev

Tom Aspinall can’t understand how certain people scored the UFC 313 main event in favor of Alex Pereira.

[autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] can’t understand how certain people scored the UFC 313 main event in favor of [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag].

[autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) defeated Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) by unanimous decision to become light heavyweight champion earlier this month at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Media outlets were almost split in their scoring of the fight (h/t MMA Decisions), with nine members awarding Pereira the fight. Interim UFC heavyweight champion Aspinall finds it baffling that anyone could have thought Pereira won.

“I think Ankalaev just had him guessing a lot,” Aspinall said in an interview with JNMediaUK. “I think Pereira’s level on the ground, I don’t know what level he’s at, but I think he’s still a bit wary of getting taken down. He definitely defended the takedowns well, but me with an educated eye watching it, I don’t think Ankalaev was really trying to take him down that much. He definitely tried a couple of times. I think he did 10 or 11 takedown attempts, but I would say only two or three of them he went full blast.

“I think the rest of the time, he was trying to tire him out with the grappling standing, like the cage grappling stuff. I think Ankalaev had the perfect game plan. He didn’t overcommit, tired him out. I can’t believe people watched that fight and thought that Pereira won. It was just wild to me how many uneducated fans are out there and how many uneducated fans thought it was a boring fight, as well. I thought it was an amazing fight, both guys did good, and I think Ankalaev was just a lot better than him on the night. That’s it.”

Pereira’s loss may have served Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) well as he eagerly waits for his title-unification bout with UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones. However, Aspinall still thinks Pereira could move up to heavyweight down the line.

“He can do whatever he wants, can’t he? He’s an absolute megastar,” Aspinall said of Pereira. “I think there’s fights to be made at middleweight, light heavy or heavy for him. He can do whatever he wants.”

[lawrence-related id=2810426,2810421,2810148,2810120]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 313.

Firas Zahabi: Alex Pereira went through analysis paralysis in UFC 313 title loss

Firas Zahabi thinks Magomed Ankalaev had Alex Pereira overthinking throughout the fight at UFC 313.

[autotag]Firas Zahabi[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] had [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] overthinking throughout the fight at UFC 313.

Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) lost his light heavyweight title to Magomed Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) by unanimous decision in this past Saturday’s main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Zahabi was surprised that Ankalaev failed to get Pereira to the ground, and even more surprised that he was able to win without any takedowns landed.

“It wasn’t the most exciting fight, but here’s what’s amazing: Ankalaev outstruck him the whole fight,” Zahabi said on his YouTube channel. “The whole fight was standing, and Ankalaev wins. But if you put these two in a kickboxing match, I think all of us would agree that Pereira wins. Pereira wasn’t throwing, even though his corner was begging him to throw between rounds. … Pereira was hesitant. After Round 1, he was hesitant. He got stunned, and ever since he got stunned, he was hesitant.

“I have my idea why I think he was hesitant. One, he was worried about the takedown. He didn’t want to get taken down. It was on his mind when he got stunned. Now he’s worried about the striking and the takedowns. It was too much. He had to think twice before he throws, and he was like paralysis by analysis. He was trying to predict what Ankalaev was going to do. Ankalaev was more unpredictable than Pereira. Pereira, we all know what’s going to come – the low kick, the knee, the left hook.”

The famed Tristar Gym head coach says Pereira was highly conservative throughout the fight and never took any risks. Although “Poatan” stuffed all 12 of Ankalaev’s takedown attempts, Zahabi thinks having to be wary of it led to his tentativeness on offense.

“I think he had an off night, and he was overwhelmed maybe by the threat of wrestling, but he didn’t throw much. It seemed that after he got stunned in Round 2, he just kind of got really conservative. It was crazy. It surprised everybody.”

Zahabi gave his round-by-round breakdown, and says no matter how you scored the rounds, there should be no debate on the outcome.

“Round 1, Pereira did incredible,” Zahabi said. “He was very dominant. It looked like Pereira was going to kick Ankalaev’s leg out. Ankalaev was in the southpaw position. The kicks weren’t as powerful, but Pereira is so experienced, it doesn’t make a difference. However, the low kicks are not as powerful because he’s not kicking with his power side. Still, the kicks were accumulating. Round 1 goes to Pereira.

“Round 2, Ankalaev hurts Pereira, stuns him, puts on the pressure. His corner was egging him on to put pressure and he did. Round 3, not a very super active round for either fighter, but Ankalaev kind of edged it out. I think most people gave Round 3 to Ankalaev. What can I say, Rounds 4 and 5 even for Ankalaev. I know a lot of people gave Round 3 to Pereira, OK, give him Round 3, he still loses 3-2 at best.”

[lawrence-related id=2810426,2810421,2810122,2809950]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 313.

Alex Pereira’s coaches think he beat Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313, promise ‘Poatan 2.0’ in rematch

Alex Pereira’s coaches disagree with the UFC 313 decision.

[autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag]’s coaches disagree with the UFC 313 decision.

Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) lost his light heavyweight title to [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) by unanimous decision in Saturday’s UFC 313 main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Both Glover Teixeira and Plinio Cruz thought their fighter should have gotten his hand raised after managing to stuff all of Ankalaev’s takedown attempts and keeping the fight on the feet.

“We had this defeat, but in my opinion he won,” Teixeira said on Pereira’s YouTube channel (h/t MMA Fighting). “He lost on points, so now we go back to the drawing board and adjust a few things, train hard and go back and get this rematch and make history. ‘Poatan’ has made history before, and he will make history again. He’s a great warrior and I’m very proud of him.”

Things are trending towards an immediate rematch between Pereira and Ankalaev, and Cruz vows a better version of his fighter.

“Life is made of ups and downs, and those ups and downs are what make us who we are on this journey to our goal,” Cruz said. “We’ll come back stronger, regroup as a team. The vibe was great this week. We have no excuses. ‘Poatan’ was fine, and I think he won the fight. This is a stumble, not a fall, and it will only make him stronger, our team stronger. Humans evolve more in times of adversity. Rivalries make us grow.

“It went (Ankalaev’s) way this time, so we’ll train more, study more, get better to deliver you a better version of ‘Poatan’ – more mean. What this guy’s done was make it worse for him because now he’ll fight ‘Poatan 2.0.’ It’s happened to ‘Poatan’ before. It’s not the first time, and a true champion is the one that stumbles but continues moving forward and reconquers it. ‘Poatan’ will reconquer the belt in the rematch. (He’ll be) a more mean version, and our team will be on a level that is higher than it already is.”

[lawrence-related id=2809953,2809838,2808967,2808980]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 313.

UFC London: Jan Blachowicz’s ‘perfect scenario’ includes rematching Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira

Jan Blachowicz hopes he can disrupt the UFC’s plans of a rematch between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira.

[autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] hopes he can disrupt the UFC’s plans of a rematch between [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] and [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag].

Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) defeated Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) by unanimous decision to become light heavyweight champion in Saturday’s UFC 313 main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Blachowicz’s past two fights came against Ankalaev and Pereira.

After going to a split draw in his title fight against Ankalaev at UFC 282, Blachowicz (29-10-1 MMA, 12-7-1 UFC) lost a split decision to Pereira at UFC 291. He will look to rebound when he takes on Carlos Ulberg (12-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) March 22 in the UFC Fight Night 255 co-headliner from O2 Arena in London.

With a win, Blachowicz targets another title fight against Ankalaev, followed by a rematch against Pereira.

“What’s going to happen? I’m going to have a title shot against Anakalaev,” Blachowicz said on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “First of all, I focus only on Ulberg. I’m going to beat him. Then if you ask me what’s next, only this. We’ve got our story – unfinished business we have to finish.

“First of all, I’m focused only on my next fight. Yes, I will beat Ulberg and then take title shot against Ankalaev. I beat Ankalaev, and then rematch against Pereira. I defend the belt against Pereira. This is the perfect scenario for me. Then I can go to the mountains again.”

It appears all signs are pointing to Ankalaev and Pereira running things back next. Pereira recently revealed that negotiations for a rematch are currently underway.

[lawrence-related id=2795052,2793668,2603838,2663876]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 255.

Alex Pereira offers no excuses after UFC 313 loss, says talks for Magomed Ankalaev rematch already underway

It appears Alex Pereira will immediately get an opportunity to avenge his UFC 313 title loss.

It appears [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] will immediately get an opportunity to avenge his UFC 313 title loss.

Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) lost his light heavyweight title to [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) by unanimous decision in Saturday’s main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Pereira was able to stuff all 12 of Ankalaev’s takedown attempts, but expressed his frustration after the fight toward Ankalaev’s game plan. He’s not ready to contest the decision until he’s rewatched the fight.

“Of course it’s not the result I wanted,” Pereira said on his YouTube channel (h/t MMA Fighting). “We were confident for this fight. I was well. I trained hard. Some things happened, of course, but I don’t want to give excuses. I know we’ll have the rematch.

“We’re already in talks (for a rematch because of) everything I’ve done and the way the fight went. Many people contested (the decision) and were in doubt. I haven’t watched the fight yet. I’ll watch to have my opinion, (because) it’s hard to have an idea when you’re in there.”

UFC CEO Dana White confirmed that Pereira and Ankalaev will likely run things back next, and Ankalaev is also gearing up for that possibility.

“I’m ready for Round 6, but this time will not go for full distant,” Ankalaev said on X. “Let’s go guys ☎️☎️☎️☎️.”

[lawrence-related id=2810148,2810120,2809950,2810010]

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 313.

USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings, March 11: Magomed Ankalaev takes throne after UFC 313

Check out the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings following UFC 313 in Las Vegas.

There’s no question who sits atop the light heavyweight rankings after UFC 313.

[autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] elevated himself to No. 1 at light heavyweight and No. 7 pound-for-pound in the USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings through his unanimous decision win over [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag].

Among other big winners from Saturday’s card were Justin Gaethje, Amanda Lemos, Ignacio Bahamondes and Mauricio Ruffy – but was it enough for them to move up their divisional ladders?

Check out all the latest pound-for-pound and divisional USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie rankings to find out.