UFC 313’s Magomed Ankalaev makes massive revelation of not strictly observing Ramadan fasting, gets answer from Alex Pereira

Magomed Ankalaev will not strictly follow Ramadan fasting during UFC 313 PPV fight week against Alex Pereira.

UFC 313’s Magomed Ankalaev makes massive revelation of not strictly observing Ramadan fasting, gets answer from Alex Pereira

UFC 313's Magomed Ankalaev might break fasting rules before finally facing Alex Pereira (Source: X/IMAGO)

After a triple-threat knockout, Alex Pereira is back again for his fifth title bout in around 16 months. “Poatan” meets light heavyweight top seed Magomed Ankalaev for it during the weekend’s UFC 313 PPV headliner. Team Gorets’ Ankalaev marks a stiff test and possibly Pereira’s biggest challenge to date. Accordingly, the duo has been bantering about it during fight week.

Some elements of the UFC 313 Pereira vs. Ankalaev element need answering. Will Ankalaev wrestle the kickboxer in what could be a proper striker vs. grappler stiff test? Can the No. 1 UFC 205-pound contender overcome a strike-heavy power as others did not? There’s the fact that Ankalaev is a devout Muslim and was following strict Ramadan fasting. However, striking a balance, he says he’ll have to let go of some of that for fight week.

I have been following the fast strictly except for this week, where I will have to break it a few times because I need to make sure I drink water to have a successful weight cut, …But apart from that — I started with Ramadan. I have been fasting. And after the fight, I will obviously also follow the rules of religion as it has to be.

Magomed Ankalaev through an interpreter to AG. Fight (@AgFight)

The UFC 313 title challenger got back into contention fold after a draw with Jan Blachowicz for the then-vacant UFC 205-pound strap. Ankalaev grinded through names like Aleksandar Rakic, Johnny Walker, Anthony Smith, Thiago Santos, and Volkan Oezdemir to get his title crack. Hence, he touted much confidence and did some back-and-forth with Alex Pereira. He even jibed that “Poatan” isn’t that big of a star and attends so many UFC events due to free alcohol.

That hit close to home for the Brazilian fighter who’s had issues with alcoholism during younger years but rose to turn things around. The stoic Poatan slammed Ankalaev for it, saying he’s playing with people who have overcome the bounds of alcoholism.

Pereira also proposed a charitable $200,000 side bet for the UFC 313 pay-per-view main event. However, Ankalev turned it down on religious grounds; now Pereira jibes, ‘What religion?’ The champ thinks Ankalaev is pulling a fast one with his religion pockery.

‘Religious’ Magomed Ankalaev is taking a mickey, lunching down on meals despite Ramadan claim, says Alex Pereira

When the UFC 313 fight came to be in January, the clash with the Islamic holy month of Ramadan was an odd tidbit. Before this, Beal Muhammad had followed through on a strict Ramadan for his TKO victory over Sean Brady. During Ramadan, Muslims are required to fast, abstaining from dawn to sunset for each of the 30 days as a way to practice self-control. Ankalaev said he’s been strictly following the rules of Ramadan since February 28.

Alex Pereira says Magomed Ankalaev taking a lunchable way out before UFC 313
Alex Pereira says Magomed Ankalaev taking a lunchable way out before UFC 313 (Source: X)

However, there’s the fight week weigh-ins looming, and Ankalaev would have to rehydrate for it. The 205-pound kingpin has some other thoughts. Alex Pereira thinks this is a back-pocket excuse for when Ankalaev loses.

With all due respect, I don’t involve religion, …I know how to respect, I know how far I can talk…But I think he’s using this as an excuse…If something happens, the same in the bet bid, ‘Oh, I can’t because of my religion’ or ‘I lost because I couldn’t recover very well and I trained very weak.’ But today I went to get my lunch boxes, the UFC lunch boxes, and there were two bags with several lunch boxes with his name on it and all by appointment. He’s not doing that [Ramadan]!

Alex Pereira through an interpreter to AG. Fight (@AgFight)
YouTube video

Despite the stock of horrors Pereira’s power is, some believe Magomed Ankalaev can survive and is a critical striker. There’s also his singled-out Sambo background despite him not heavily relying on it. The only one who came close was Jan Blachowicz, who stuffed three out of eight TD attempts and almost won for it, with 6+ minutes of ground control time.

However, Blachowicz’s average career TD accuracy (TD. Avg) is about 50 percent; Pereira was able to deflect and bring him down for much of it despite holes in his ground game. Ankalaev is 31 percent, and Alex Pereira has been honing his skills since then.

His proprioception and range management aside, he is also +/-2-0 against dedicated competition southpaws. So, there might be more than a chance he fares well. He thinks if he overcomes and wins, Ankalaev would be banking on the fasting as an excuse for weaker form.

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