“It shows he won’t be ready,” Alex Pereira SHUTS DOWN Magomed Ankalaev’s Abu Dhabi title shot call out

Alex Pereira dropped his potential bout against Magomed Ankalaev in October in Abu Dhabi.

“It shows he won’t be ready,” Alex Pereira SHUTS DOWN Magomed Ankalaev’s Abu Dhabi title shot call out

Alex Pereira doesn't want to fight against Magomed Ankalaev in October (via Imago)

Fresh off his title defense against Jamahal Hill at UFC 300, light heavyweight king Alex Pereira is already fielding challenges. Top contender, Magomed Ankalaev wasted no time calling for the next shot at Pereira’s belt in Abu Dhabi this October. But the Brazilian champion seemed utterly unimpressed by Ankalaev’s bold attempt to call the location and date.

Ankalaev pitched the idea of facing Pereira at the upcoming Abu Dhabi pay-per-view in October after his knockout of Johnny Walker. The Russian stated he’d love to challenge the newly-minted 205-pound champ in the Middle East later this year. But Alex Pereira swiftly shut down that location and timeline in his typical nonchalant fashion. 

I don't want to fight at the end of the year. I want to fight sooner, so maybe that shows he [Ankalaev] won't be ready. I don't know why he said that.
Alex Pereira via MMA Fighting’s Trocação Franca podcast

If Pereira gets his wish, he’d prefer to make his next title defense at New York’s Madison Square Garden in November. The Brazilian knockout artist is 2-0 with two stoppages in Big Apple pay-per-view main events.

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Ankalaev certainly deserves a crack at Pereira’s strap after his performance. He has been lobbying to fight Pereira for quite some time now. Pereira isn’t ruling out fighting Magomed Ankalaev eventually. Ultimately, it will fall on the UFC to determine when and where its must-see 205-pound titleholder competes next.

Magomed Ankalaev alleges that Alex Pereira has no chin

Few insults cut deeper for fighters than questioning their ability to take a punch. That’s exactly the approach Magomed Ankalaev is taking with his callout of Pereira. The Russian contender firmly believes Pereira’s “chinny” flaws will lead to his downfall.

Magomed Ankalaev believes that he will knock out Alex Pereira
Magomed Ankalaev believes that he will knock out Alex Pereira (via Sports Illustrated/MMA Mania)

Ankalaev knocked out Walker to solidify himself as the #1 contender. Recently, Ankalaev started by congratulating Pereira for getting a first-round KO victory against Jamahal Hill. The Russian then proceeded to call him out and proclaimed that Pereira had no ‘chin.’

@AlexPereiraUFC  congratulation,  l will stop in the first round by knockout  @danawhite @Mickmaynard2 the man doesn’t have a chin.
Magomed Ankalaev via X

Pereira has been rocked and even knocked out in the UFC fights against opponents without thunderous power like Israel Adesanya. Ankalaev believes that his powerful shots will expose Pereira’s perceived defensive liabilities.

The only way to settle this is for these two elite fighters to go to war inside the octagon. Pereira’s championship reign could very well come down to whether he can withstand Ankalaev’s ferocious offensive or have his perceived glass chin exposed on the biggest stage.

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