Magomed Ankalaev predicted to not solve ‘Alex Pereira vs. Wrestler’ debate at UFC 313: “He doesn’t train with Khabib”
UFC 313 PPV main event title challenger Magomed Ankalaev is not a stiff wrestling test but a striker like Alex Pereira, says Brendan Schaub.
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Brendan Schaub thinks Magomed Ankalaev is a not a wrestling test for Alex Pereira (Source: X/IMAGO)
Alex “Poatan” Pereira is the biggest red-hot commodity and arguably the fan-favorite UFC champ. Pereira takes on No. 1 UFC 205-pound contender Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313. The scrap is Pereira’s fourth defense of his light heavyweight title. After UFC 307, many also bill it to be his toughest stylistic skill ceiling yet. Brendan Schaub, though, has other thoughts.
Brendan Schaub isn’t taking anything away from Magomed Ankalaev. The Russian became the top seed for the 205-pound gold by defeating Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 308. He was a ‘Master of Sport’ in Combat Sambo and the 2016 Akhmat FC Light Heavyweight Grand Prix champ. However, ex-UFC Schaub thinks that this won’t be a striker vs. grappler affair like any other.
I cannot emphasize this enough, ..get close, get close. I can’t emphasize this enough: turn up your car radio, right now; listen to me very carefully. I know Ankalaev is Dagestani — I know, ..and we’ve all seen Dagestanis they have great wrestling backgrounds…[but] he doesn’t train with Khabib’s Team; his background is Sambo, but, his fight style couldn’t be any more clear, and the data shows all the facts.
Brendan Schaub on his ‘Thiccc Boy’ Podcast (@ThicccBoy)| Episode 425
“Poatan” is 5-0 since moving up to the light heavyweight bounds in July 2023. He has had quite the 2024 season with triple-knockout title defenses. Despite going through a murderer’s row of top fighters and even previous champs, there’s still holes in his game, though.
For one, the Team Teixeira MMA & Fitness striker is not a profound grappler. However, Brendan Schaub thinks this is not the usual grappling challenge; Ankalaev is more profound in his striking style. The UFC 313 title challenger touts an 11-0 KO (TKO) win-to-loss ratio; meanwhile, he’s 0-1 in submissions! Ankalaev lost via submission to Paul Craig at UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Volkov.
The Russian fighter also readily agreed to a no-takedown pre-fight pact with the champ. If he does shoot a double-leg or grabs on to minimize slicers, Pereira assured he’s ready. Per DraftKings, the duo are sailing around -110 on the prop against each other.
Magomed Ankalaev non-committal to scramble and not strike with champ Alex Pereira at UFC 313
Oddsmakers and UFC execs aren’t the only ones splitting hairs over MMA/UFC ‘what-ifs’ and ‘will-they-won’t-they’ stuff. Fans also indulge in such questions. One big question ahead of UFC 313 remains about Magomed Ankalaev. Will he choose to wrestle Alex Pereira or not? UFC 307 title challenger Khalil Rountree Jr. stuck to it and played a standup game during the PPV headliner spot. Will this weekend be the same?
Pereira, the former two-division GLORY Hall of Famer, is wildly popular for his volume sparring, blink-and-miss shots, shovel hooks, rabona checks, and range attacks. So, it’s a no-brainer to go to ground games and catch him where he is not that strong. But the MMA consensus knows that Ankalev barely grazes his wrestling utility. He doesn’t promise T-Mobile Arena will be any different this weekend.
We’ll come out there in the stand-up, and then we’ll see what happens, …I don’t know how many rounds it will go, but from the very first round I will try to find a finish.
Magomed Ankalev during Wednesday’s UFC 313 PPV Media Day fighter interviews
Ankalaev’s six KO victories in UFC 205-pound competition tie for fourth-most. Yet, per UFC statbooks, he defends 87 percent of all takedown attempts and has sufficient anti-wrestling as well as anti-strike management. Nobody knows what his plan is against Pereira going into this weekend. However, the challenger has plans not to let it go to the judges’ scorecards.
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