Alex Pereira Challenges Magomed Ankalaev to Compare Medical Records after ‘Broken Ribs’ Claims

UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira shuts down Magomed Ankalaev's injury claims following their recent fight. 

Alex Pereira Challenges Magomed Ankalaev to Compare Medical Records after ‘Broken Ribs’ Claims

Alex Pereira is ready to compare injuries with Magomed Ankalaev (via X)

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At UFC 320, Alex Pereira stunned the world by knocking out former light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev in 80 seconds. The Brazilian closed the distance quickly, landing powerful strikes that dropped Ankalaev before finishing him with ground-and-pound. Later reports revealed that Ankalaev entered the fight injured, explaining his unusually poor performance and lack of defensive response.

A video went viral showing Ankalaev in the hospital with a broken rib that reportedly disrupted his entire training camp. UFC veteran Daniel Cormier later confirmed the injury, revealing that the Russian couldn’t complete even a single full training session. As speculation spread online, Alex Pereira responded strongly, accusing Ankalaev of using excuses to diminish his dominant UFC 320 victory.

Now, Ankalaev is talking about broken rib or whatever. Bro, if you saw my injuries right now… he’d feel like (expletive). He wouldn’t even come back to fight again…I’ll show you my medical results. What I’ve got versus what you’ve got. I doubt this guy has dealt with the things I’ve dealt with man. 

Alex Pereira via Connect Cast

Alex Pereira revealed that he landed several hard shots to Ankalaev’s ribs during the final exchange at UFC 320. He pointed out that Ankalaev showed no signs of pain afterward, raising doubts about the legitimacy of the reported rib injury. Despite the setback, the Russian accepted the defeat gracefully and assured fans he would return stronger in his next appearance.

Heading into the fight, tensions between Alex Pereira and Ankalaev were sky-high as both exchanged harsh and personal insults publicly. Ankalaev taunted Pereira, vowing to send him back to the tire shop where he worked before becoming a professional fighter. Angered by the disrespect, Pereira took revenge inside the Octagon, mocking the defeated Russian with emotes after his brutal TKO. 

UFC middleweight champion doubles down on fighting Alex Pereira 

Alex Pereira has become one of the UFC’s biggest global stars, captivating fans with his striking power and highlight-reel finishes. Following his win over Magomed Ankalaev, Pereira reclaimed his title dominantly, reigniting hype surrounding his warrior spirit. In post-fight interviews, Pereira announced bold plans to move up to the heavyweight division and challenge former champion Jon Jones.

Alex Pereira gets called out by Khamzat Chimaev
Alex Pereira gets called out by Khamzat Chimaev (via X)

‘Poatan’ believes him vs. Jones in the main event of the upcoming White House event will be a great fight. UFC CEO Dana White remains hesitant about Pereira’s immediate jump in weight, but remains open to further discussion. Adding more intrigue, middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev has publicly called out Pereira, demanding an electrifying champion-versus-champion caliber fight soon

If you ask me, of course I would love to fight for the second belt. It’s no secret, the guy who’s got the belt at 205 pounds now is a very good matchup for me, except for [if] I should get reckless standing with him. They say he has a lot of power, but I’ve never been edged out in that area. He used to fight at 185, too, and then moved up to 205. So I would like to fight at light heavyweight.

Khamzat Chimaev via Badaev Podcast 

Chimaev is widely regarded as the most dangerous wrestler in the UFC and believes his grappling can overwhelm Alex Pereira. ‘Poatan’, however, showcased strong takedown defense at UFC 313, successfully stuffing several of Ankalaev’s attempts to bring him down. Now at 38 years old, the Brazilian has expressed interest only in major superfights before announcing his retirement from MMA. 

After his last fight, Pereira suffered a leg fracture that will keep him sidelined from competition for several months. The light heavyweight division remains stacked with talented contenders eagerly waiting for their chance to claim the title in Pereira’s absence. Fans are now curious to see what lies ahead for the Brazilian superstar once he makes his long-awaited return.

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