Alex Pereira has announced that he will not be fighting Magomed Ankalaev in his next bout.
After Pereira’s victory over Khalil Rountree and Ankalaev’s win against Aleksandar Rakic, many anticipated that the two would face off next. Ankalaev is undeniably the top contender in the light heavyweight division, but Pereira took to Instagram on December 18 to state that his upcoming title defense will not be against the Dagestani fighter.
In an Instagram caption, Pereira expressed his surprise, stating, “It won’t be Ankalaev! 😭”
The reasons for Pereira’s decision to avoid a fight with Ankalaev remain unclear, and it’s uncertain who he will face instead. This revelation comes as a significant surprise to fans, especially given that Pereira will defend his title again against someone other than Ankalaev.
Currently, Pereira holds a record of 12-2 and is coming off a TKO win over Khalil Rountree. Prior to that, he achieved knockout victories against Jiri Prochazka and Jamahal Hill. The Brazilian is impressive in the UFC, with a 9-1 record and a perfect 5-0 since moving up to 205lbs, including three title defenses.
On the other hand, Ankalaev boasts a record of 19-1-1, with one no contest, and recently secured a decision win over Rakic. He previously knocked out Johnny Walker following the no contest, and fought Jan Blachowicz to a draw for the vacant title. Ankalaev has also claimed notable victories over fighters like Thiago Santos, Volkan Oezdemir, and Anthony Smith.
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