There were more than a few curious looks when it was announced that light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira would defend his title next against Khalil Rountree at UFC 307.
The assumption was Magomed Ankalaev was the clear cut No. 1 contender at 205 pounds but he ended up booked against Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 308 instead. As disappointing as it was for the Russian currently riding a 12-fight unbeaten streak to get that news, his manager has been assured that one more win gets him a chance at becoming UFC champion.
“Listen, I’m happy for Khalil,” Ankalaev’s manager Ali Abdelaziz told MMA Fighting. “It’s funny how Magomed Ankalaev is now rooting for Alex Pereira. At the end of the day, it’s the UFC’s decision. It wasn’t my decision. It wasn’t Ankalaev’s decision. But I know I’ve been told, Ankalaev do what he has to do, Alex Pereira do what he has to do, and both of them will fight next.
“I don’t think Alex is ducking him. I think it’s the UFC’s decision. I don’t think Alex is the guy ducking people. I have respect for him and his team. He just became a big star and [the UFC] knows, you know, the fans know, Magomed Ankalaev is the hardest and toughest fight for Alex Pereira. Let’s be real. It’s OK. Because if you’re the best in the world, if you want us to beat Rakic, we’ll beat Rakic. Now [Pereira] has do his job and beat Khalil Rountree. It’s not an easy task. I don’t think it’s an easy fight. Magomed Ankalaev has to beat Rakic and these two guys will fight and people will get the best two light heavyweights in the world right now. No. 1, Magomed Ankalaev, No. 2 is Alex Pereira. This is my opinion.”
Leading into UFC 307 fight week, Pereira teased his interest in potentially returning to his old stomping grounds at middleweight with hopes that he could challenge current champion Dricus du Plessis. There’s also been talks about Pereira possibly testing himself at heavyweight in the future against names like Tom Aspinall or maybe even Jon Jones.
While he initially spurred on those rumors, Pereira actually shut down talks about changing weight classes on Wednesday when asked about his plans after UFC 307.
“I would choose to defend my belt,” Pereira said during media day. “Because it takes a planned work to cut down in weight, and it takes planned work to move up as well, but it’s perfect for this division.”
That’s exactly what Ankalaev surely wanted to hear but it’s apparently what the UFC already told his manager.
“I’m not concerned about [Pereira moving weight classes] at all,” Abdelaziz said. “I have conversations behind closed doors and Magomed Ankalaev needs to go out there and show why he should fight for the title and he will get his title shot.”
There’s any number of reasons why the UFC opted to go with Rountree right now but it was Pereira who speculated that Ankalaev’s “boring style” cost him the chance to fight for the title.
Both Ankalaev and his manager have now noted that when it comes to finishes in the UFC, he’s got just as many as Pereira so it’s difficult to understand how he’s not been as entertaining.
“Nobody can say Magomed Ankalaev is boring because he has six knockouts in the UFC,” Abdelaziz said. “Pereira has six knockouts. [Ankalev] fought everybody but it’s OK. It’s no problem. It’s no hard feelings. It’s no complaining, no crying. We’ll just keep going.”
The way Abdelaziz sees it, Ankalaev is just going to have to keep proving himself until it’s undeniable that he’s the best light heavyweight in the sport.
That may require him to extend his unbeaten streak to 13 in a row with his upcoming fight at UFC 308 but Abdelaziz truly believes Ankalaev will eventually become UFC champion in 2025.
“Khabib Nurmagomedov [won] 10 fights, Kamaru Usman [won] 10 fights [to get a title shot], these type of guys they have a long road to get to the UFC [title],” Abdelaziz said. “When they get there, they stay there. Kamaru stayed there. Islam [Makhachev] is staying there. Khabib stayed there. Belal [Muhammad], too, is one of these guys. He takes a long road and now we’re going to see if he’s going to stay there.
“It’s OK. it’s just making it more tougher and makes it more better, it makes you have something to prove. It’s no problem for him fighting Khalil Rountree. Did Khalil Rountree deserve it over Ankalaev? Absolutely not but it’s a business.”
