Magomed Ankalaev Vows to Hand Alex Pereira Fourth KO Loss in Legendary Career

UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev sends knockout warning to Alex Pereira ahead of UFC 320 rematch.

Magomed Ankalaev Vows to Hand Alex Pereira Fourth KO Loss in Legendary Career

Magomed Ankalaev vows to knockout Alex Pereira (via MMA Fighting)

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In recent times, numerous fighters have made their mark in the UFC as superstars. These superstars have cemented themselves in UFC history by delivering highlight-reel knockouts and dominant championship reigns. Such was the case for Brazilian superstar Alex Pereira, who made waves in the UFC since his debut in 2021. However, his demolition course was halted by Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313.

Pereira made his UFC debut in 2021 in the middleweight division and won the title by knocking out Israel Adesanya after only three fights. However, he got knocked out in their rematch and moved up to the light heavyweight division. ‘Poatan’ defeated Jiri Prochazka and won the vacant title. He then went on to amass three title defenses via KO before losing to Ankalaev via unanimous decision in March 2025.

Ever since then, he has been vocal about a rematch against the Russian native. While their rematch is set for UFC 320, Ankalaev has been consistently taking shots at Pereira in the buildup to their fight. While he was known for his silent and introverted demeanor, ‘Big Ank’ showed a new side of himself. He recently took to X to make a violent prediction for the UFC 320 main event.

This guy has been knocked out 3 times in his career, I never been knocked down. This time, I will give him his 4th knockout, end of the story.

Magomed Ankalaev via X

Ankalaev addressed recent comments surrounding their upcoming rematch and highlighted his perspective on the rivalry. He also pointed out and took a jab at Pereira’s history of working at a tire shop. However, with tensions building between him and ‘Poatan’, Ankalaev made it clear that he was focused on the contest itself rather than external drama.

Pereira, known for his striking power and success in both kickboxing and MMA, has experienced a few knockout defeats in his combat sports career. In kickboxing, a young Poatan was stopped by Jason Wilnis in 2012 and by Artur Kyshenko in 2016. While he has faced multiple decision losses, Pereira also faced a submission loss against Qumuel Ottoni at Jungle Fight 82 back in 2015, which was also his MMA debut.

Despite these setbacks, Alex Pereira’s career remains defined by his striking prowess and ability to compete at the highest levels across multiple combat sports. His knockout losses, though few, highlight the challenges of facing elite competition. However, it remains to be seen if Magomed Ankalaev’s prediction comes true on October 4th at UFC 320.

Alex Pereira believes Magomed Ankalaev is scared of him

Tensions continue to simmer in the light heavyweight division as Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira prepare to face off in their rematch at UFC 320 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. While there was mutual respect between them leading up to their first fight, both fighters have constantly took jabs at each other in the lead-up to the rematch.

Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313
Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 (via The Playoffs)

Ankalaev has been vocal on social media, calling out and trash-talking the Brazilian superstar. However, Pereira has remained awfully silent and trained discreetly without revealing any details from his camp. Despite the silence, Pereira recently shared an incident with Ankalaev at the UFC Performance Institute that shone a different light on the 205-pound champion.

The fact that the guy hides in a room because I’m in the same place as him. He’s a chump. What kind of champion is that man? A **** champion. I know that’s harsh, but he’s a ****** champion, man. Hiding now. We’ll be in the cage, locked in there, unless he jumps the fence. He’s a ****** champion, this guy.

Alex Pereira via X

The upcoming bout represents a pivotal contest in the division, as both athletes bring contrasting strengths and styles. Magomed Ankalaev enters as the reigning champion, while Alex Pereira aims to leverage his striking expertise and experience to regain his title that he lost via decision.

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