Magomed Ankalaev criticized Alex Pereira for considering a drop to 185 pounds to challenge UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis, calling Pereira the “biggest chicken in the UFC” and promising to knock him out in under two rounds when they eventually fight.
Magomed Ankalaev is getting sick of Alex Pereira.
Long considered one of the top light heavyweights in the world, Ankalaev made it clear he did not appreciate Pereira teasing the idea of dropping back down to 185 pounds to challenge UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis after UFC 305. Early Sunday morning, Ankalaev erupted on the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion on social media. He dubbed Pereira the “biggest chicken in the UFC” and promised to knock out the Brazilian in two rounds or less whenever they finally meet in the octagon.
@AlexPereiraUFC biggest chicken in the Ufc he call out guys middleweight he 40 pound more than them I am the only guy he doesn’t even mention my name I promise I’m gonna handle my business in October and I’m gonna knock you out under 2 round.
Ankalaev is currently tied with former champ Jiri Prochazka for the No. 2 spot on MMA Fighting’s global light heavyweight rankings. The 32-year-old Dagestan native is unbeaten over his past 12 UFC bouts. Many within the sport assumed he would be awarded the next title shot against Pereira. However, that did not turn out to be the case.
Instead, Ankalaev is set to face Aleksandar Rakic on October 26 at UFC 308. This bout comes just three weeks after Pereira makes the third defense of his title against MMA Fighting’s No. 9 ranked light heavyweight Khalil Rountree Jr. on October 5 in the main event of UFC 307.
It remains to be seen whether Pereira is serious about his pledge to come down to 185 pounds “one more time.” But if he is, the middleweight champ thinks it’ll be a bad idea.
“I honestly don’t think Alex Pereira should drop down to 185,” du Plessis said at UFC 305’s post-fight press conference. “If he wants to, great, perfect. But then we’re going to hear the excuses.”
“I saw [Israel Adesanya] stiff that man in the first round. I felt Izzy’s punching power tonight,” du Plessis continued. “Izzy has great timing, he’s fast, he’s long and he has great combinations, but I felt the power.”
“If Izzy stiffens you like that, you do not want to be in there with me,” du Plessis added. “Especially not when you’ve got to come in there with the excuses, ‘Oh, I cut too much weight.’ That’s going to happen. Everybody’s going to say it.”