Alex Pereira faces a challenging title defense against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313, with concerns from analysts about his focus due to recent travels, while Ankalaev remains highly prepared and focused on exploiting Pereira’s potential weaknesses.
Alex Pereira faces a tough challenge in his upcoming championship defense, and not everyone believes he’s fully focused. On March 8, at UFC 313, Pereira will attempt to defend his light heavyweight title for the fourth time against Magomed Ankalaev. "Poatan" had an impressive 2024, winning three headline bouts and becoming one of the UFC’s most popular fighters.
Pereira’s rising fame has led to numerous opportunities to travel globally, whether for leisure or business. Recently, he was in Australia to support Sean Strickland at UFC 312. This frequent traveling has raised concerns among analysts like Chael Sonnen and Daniel Cormier about Pereira’s readiness for his fight against Ankalaev.
"It’s concerning," Sonnen expressed on the Good Guy / Bad Guy podcast. He compared Pereira’s situation to former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic, who maintained a consistent routine even while juggling a firefighting career. Training on the road isn’t the same—it’s often reduced to hotel treadmills or makeshift sessions in cramped spaces.
Meanwhile, Ankalaev is avoiding media distractions and staying focused in the Caucasus mountains. Cormier noted that Ankalaev has already arrived in Las Vegas, preparing for his second title shot after a previous split draw with Jan Blachowicz at UFC 282.
Cormier questions Pereira’s travel choices when Ankalaev is already settled in Vegas for their imminent clash. "Ankalaev’s locked in," Cormier said after spotting him at the Performance Institute last week. Despite oddsmakers favoring Ankalaev, fans can’t see Pereira losing due to his charisma and popularity.
Cormier highlighted the challenges of adjusting to time zones and travel fatigue, emphasizing that these factors could impact Pereira’s performance. Ankalaev boasts a 13-fight unbeaten streak and is known for his striking skills but also has a solid wrestling background—skills that could be crucial against Pereira.
Sonnen suspects Ankalaev might play mind games by claiming he’ll strike with Pereira but switch tactics during the fight. "He says he’s a kickboxer, and we have to take him at his word," Sonnen remarked. Ankalaev has been vocal about his confidence, even tweeting that Pereira "will never be the same" post-fight.
Cormier sees potential paths to victory for both fighters but stresses the importance of them being at their best. He recalls Ankalaev’s struggle with leg kicks against Blachowicz and notes Pereira’s formidable kicking ability as a potential game-changer.
Ultimately, Cormier advises Pereira to focus on preparation for what he considers the toughest challenge of his title reign so far. Time to get home and lock in—because this fight promises to be anything but easy.