Alex Pereira’s subsequent Final Combating Championship (UFC) Mild Heavyweight title protection would possibly come in opposition to Magomed Ankalaev, however the perennial high contender’s subsequent combat received’t be Pereira.
The promotion caught combat followers off guard at UFC Abu Dhabi earlier this month (Aug. 3, 2024) when it revealed the UFC 308 fundamental card line up, that includes the return of the surging Ankalaev, who will tackle Aleksandar Rakic on Oct. 26, 2024. Amongst these confused by the match up was former divisional champion, Daniel Cormier.
Regardless of the shock, “D.C.” is cool with one other check for the Russian.
“I don’t know why Pereira isn’t combating Ankalaev,” Cormier stated on Good Man/Dangerous Man (h/t Forbes). “I don’t know why that’s not taking place. What I do like is that now Ankalaev has to cross one other check. As a result of what the UFC is sort of saying right here is we’ve obtained this star. We all know that this man right here might be an actual potential subject for that star. They may combat ultimately, however they’ll combat when we now have no different choice. I prefer it.”
Ankalaev, 32, has gone unbeaten in his final 12 fights since his lone loss in his UFC debut (18-1-1, 1 no contest). Shortly earlier than Pereira grew to become a champion, Ankalaev had his first profession UFC title shot when he and Jan Blachowicz, sadly, battled to a break up attract a vacant title affair in December 2022. It has been an uphill climb for the contender ever since.
Due to Ankalaev’s sturdy total skillset supported by his wrestling, many count on him to be Pereira’s most troublesome match up. Due to this fact, presumably delaying the reserving additional than it might be with a much less fashionable and entertaining champion. From a enterprise perspective, that is simply the way it goes typically, believes Cormier.
“I don’t suppose you run the danger but,” Cormier stated. “I’m not saying Pereira can’t combat or beat Ankalaev. I simply really feel like it’s a very very troublesome matchup, presumably the toughest matchup for him in all the Mild Heavyweight division. So I believe he has to attend proper, otherwise you get him in there with another person proper now that’s a striker. As a result of all these strikers he’s simply knocking out left and proper, and each time he does that his star simply shines brighter. So perhaps that’s what occurs for Alex Pereira, however I’m very not often shocked when fights get introduced. However I bear in mind sitting in Manchester they usually stated UFC 308, and once I noticed Rakic taking over Ankalaev, my jaw dropped. I used to be like, ‘They really did it.’ Like typically you bought to guard that golden goose a bit of bit and that’s sort of what it looks like.”
