Alex Pereira dismisses Dagestani wrestling ‘fear factor’ ahead of Magomed Ankalaev fight

Days before his fight against Magomed Ankalaev, UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira provides an update on his preparations.

Alex Pereira dismisses Dagestani wrestling ‘fear factor’ ahead of Magomed Ankalaev fight

Alex Pereira is unfazed by Magomed Ankalaev's wrestling prowess (Image via Forbes/MMA Fighting)

Brazilian MMA fighter Alex Pereira is currently the UFC light heavyweight champion. Since moving to the 205-pound division, Pereira has been on an impressive run. However, in just a few days, he is set to face one of the toughest challengers in the light heavyweight division, Magomed Ankalaev. The main event fight is scheduled for the upcoming UFC PPV event (UFC 313) in March.

In the weeks leading up to the fight, Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereira has been frequently making headlines, primarily due to his activities outside the cage. Most recently, Pereira attended a concert in Australia and also participated in an interview with well-known businessman Mark Bouris. During the interview, the Brazilian fighter was asked about his preparations for his title defense fight against Ankalaev.

I’m training how I always train. Nothing has changed except that he’s left handed… (On Ank’s wrestling) I have a lot of experience with grappling as well. I’m not scared, I’m ready to go.

Alex Pereira to Mark Bouris on YouTube

Interestingly, while Pereira has a kickboxing background, Ankalaev is known for his wrestling skills. Many believe that the UFC light heavyweight champion might struggle against the Dagestani fighter in their upcoming match. However, the Brazilian fighter disagrees and has stated that he hasn’t made any significant changes to his usual fighting style. Moreover, both Ankalaev and Pereira do not share a great camaraderie.

In the current situation, while Ankalaev is dedicating himself to intense training sessions, Pereira is often seen enjoying his time outside the cage. This has led the Dagestani fighter to express frustration over the UFC light heavyweight champion’s apparent lack of seriousness regarding their upcoming fight. Recently, the Brazilian fighter even stepped in as Sean Strickland‘s cornerman during UFC 312.

Former rival of Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev shares his thoughts on their upcoming fight

Magomed Ankalaev has risen through the ranks by defeating several formidable fighters in the UFC. Notably, the Dagestani fighter has only failed to defeat two opponents in the promotion. One of those opponents is former UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz. Interestingly, their UFC 282 headlining fight did not result in Ankalaev’s defeat; it ended in a draw.

Jan Blachowicz in action against Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira
Alex Pereira dismisses Dagestani wrestling ‘fear factor’ ahead of Magomed Ankalaev fight (Image via MMA Mania/MMA Fighting)

Pereira faced off against the Polish fighter and emerged victorious by a split decision after a challenging five-round battle. Given Błachowicz’s experience fighting both Pereira and Ankalaev, he offered an intriguing preview of the upcoming light heavyweight championship fight. He believes that Ankalaev stands a poor chance against Pereira in the matchup.

If Ankalaev fights like he did in his last fight with Rakic, he’s gonna lose [to Alex Pereira]… He needs to change. When he fights, he wants to win but doesn’t want to take punches, this way won’t work with Pereira.

Jan Blachowicz via Home of Fight

Currently, the UFC light heavyweight champion is considered the favorite to win against Ankalaev. Although Pereira has downplayed any potential threats posed by the Dagestani fighter’s wrestling skills, it will be interesting to see who emerges as the victor at UFC 313.