Magomed Ankalaev criticized Alex Pereira for not engaging during their UFC 313 main event, which resulted in a less action-packed fight, and expressed his willingness for a rematch to prove his victory was deserved.
Magomed Ankalaev isn’t mincing words about the UFC 313 main event. He squarely points the finger at Alex Pereira for the lack of action in their bout.
Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Ankalaev clinched a unanimous decision over Pereira, taking home the UFC light heavyweight championship. This win was a departure from the explosive encounters fans were used to seeing in Pereira’s previous title fights.
At the post-fight press conference, Ankalaev defended his strategy. He suggested that “Poatan” was more interested in evasion than engagement.
“It was very different from what we envisioned,” Ankalaev explained through a Russian translator. “Usually, Pereira is on the hunt, moving forward to finish his opponents.”
But this time? Not so much. According to Ankalaev, Pereira was elusive, not allowing much room for action.
The judges scored it 48-47 twice and 49-46 in favor of Ankalaev. Some rounds were close calls (MMA Fighting had it 48-47 for Pereira), but Ankalaev felt confident throughout.
“I kept pressuring him,” Ankalaev remarked. “He ran for 20 minutes, then questioned why I got the victory. Who else should’ve won?”
Open to a rematch, Ankalaev hopes next time Pereira will fight instead of flee.
Pre-fight chatter had pegged Ankalaev’s wrestling as a key to stifling Pereira’s striking prowess. Yet, despite going 0-for-12 on takedown attempts, Ankalaev managed to control Pereira against the cage.
Ankalaev wasn’t shocked by Pereira’s wrestling defense or his own success standing up. “They said he was the best striker,” he noted. “You saw how our striking matched up.”
Confident in his stand-up game, Ankalaev didn’t need to rely on wrestling. His goal was to draw Pereira forward—a tactic that didn’t pan out.
Even before the fight, Ankalaev promised an immediate rematch if victorious. Now he’s ready whenever Dana White makes it official.
“I don’t pick my opponents,” Ankalaev stated. “I’m ready for a rematch whenever UFC offers it.”