Robert Whittaker claims UFC’s ‘boogeyman’ narrative around Alex Pereira ended at UFC 313

Robert Whittaker believes Alex Pereira has lost his aura after his latest loss at UFC 313 against Magomed Ankalaev.

Robert Whittaker claims UFC’s ‘boogeyman’ narrative around Alex Pereira ended at UFC 313

Robert Whittaker questions Alex Pereira's influence after recent loss (via Imago/X)

Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev went against each other at UFC 313 with the light heavyweight championship on the line. Shockingly, it was the Russian who came out victorious in a convincing manner. The fight has somehow uncovered the Brazilian’s hype, impacting his invincible stature. 

Former UFC champion Robert Whittaker recently talked about the fight in a podcast. In the past, the Aussie superstar was amazed by the size of Pereira in the middleweight division. However, according to Whittaker, the loss against Ankalaev has humanized the Brazilian.

I think the hype and confidence train Pereira had the ‘If he touches you, you’re going out’ vibe is now mutish because Ankalaev didn’t die; he didn’t go to sleep when Pereira punched him. All the boogeyman vibes, all the mysteries and uncertainties are now gone.

Robert Whittaker via MMArcade Podcast 
YouTube video

Going into the fight, Pereira had an incredible hype especially due to his recent performances. Last year, he knocked out three title contenders and became the biggest knockout artist in the UFC. Everyone thought one punch from ‘Poatan’ is enough to put anyone to sleep. But at UFC 313, the Russian broke all those expectations.

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Whittaker also talked about Ankalaev’s strategy to use his clinching and takedowns to confuse Pereira. The Aussie fighter mentioned that Pereira shouldn’t have complained about the control time and should have been able to be free himself. Surprisingly, many other experts also felt the same.

UFC veteran talks about Alex Pereira’s loss at UFC 313

Ahead of the fight, there were various discussions about how well Alex Pereira will do against Magomed Ankalaev’s wrestling. The Brazilian promised fans to not worry about it and proved it during the fight. He was able to stuff all the twelve takedowns, which shocked many fans.

Magomed Ankalaev beats Alex Pereira at UFC 313
Magomed Ankalaev beats Alex Pereira at UFC 313 (via X)

However, during the process he failed to apply his striking as effectively as possible. As a result, Magomed Ankalaev was able to find success in the striking department, getting more significant shots on the Brazilian. In a recent interview, Cory Sandhagen shared his opinion on the title fight.

He (Ankalaev) could just pin Pereira against the fence and win like that. But Ankalaev showed that he’s willing to win in more exciting ways, which I think is cool.

Cory Sandhagen via James Lynch 

Pereira spent most of his time guessing and running backwards to avoid getting taken down. He normally likes to march forward and run down his opponents with a fury of punches. However, it was the first time fans saw him moving back and it cost him the fight.

Most of Pereira’s opponents fall into the trap of chasing a knockout, only to pay the price and get knocked out. However, Ankalaev was too smart to make that mistake. He stuck to his strengths, fought with caution, and executed his game plan flawlessly.

Has Alex Pereira been exposed after UFC 313?

Throughout his UFC career, Alex Pereira has fought multiple champions and was able to knock them out. While his striking has no answer, he has already struggled while defending takedowns. In the past, Israel Adesanya and Jan Blachowicz were able to give fans a hint. 

Alex Pereira's downfall started after UFC 313
Alex Pereira’s downfall started after UFC 313 (via X)

However, Ankalaev left no doubt about his abilities and is ready to prove himself again in the rematch. UFC CEO Dana White is eager to make it happen later this year, giving ‘Poatan’ a chance at redemption. The big question is whether Ankalaev can replicate his success or if Pereira will turn the tables this time.

Related: Alex Pereira Net Worth, Endorsements, UFC contract, Wife, and House