Pereira Says He Requested Matchup at UFC 313; Ankalaev Issues Warning
According to Alex Pereira, he got exactly what he asked for at UFC 313.
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“I did say that I wanted to take a break, but I started training again. I started feeling good. I started seeing my evolution,” Pereira told ESPN through a translator. “So I called my managers right away and I said, ‘I want to fight. I want to fight in March. I want to fight Ankalaev.’ I know he keeps saying that I’m a just an employee of the UFC, I fight whenever they want, but I asked for him. I told them when I want to fight.”
Ankalaev will enter the bout on a 13-bout unbeaten streak in UFC
competition. The 32-year-old is coming off a unanimous decision
triumph over Aleksandar
Rakic at UFC 308 last October. Though Ankalaev was viewed as
the No. 1 contender before Pereira was booked against Khalil
Rountree at UFC 307, “Poatan” doesn’t see the challenger
anything special.
“He’s as dangerous as any other fighter I’ve fought,” Pereira said. “Looking at him, the way that he fights, he’s an ordinary guy. Of course he has his weapons, he has his dangers, but I’ve been training hard. I’ve evolved a lot, and I’m ready for him.”
Ankalaev, who has been eagerly awaiting his championship opportunity, issued a warning to Pereira via social media.
“You just [signed] your death certificate,” Ankalaev wrote. I’m gonna punish you for ducking me, and I’m gonna make you look like a guy [who works] in a tire shop, not [a] professional fighter.”
You just sign your death certificate I’m gonna punish you for ducking me and I’m gonna make you look like a guy work in a tire shop not professional Fighter
— Magomed Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM) January 20, 2025
Pereira also came away impressed with former foe Jiri Prochazka, who scored a third-round TKO against Jamahal Hill at UFC 311. Though he has twice been finished by Pereira, Prochazka made it clear that he wants a trilogy against the Brazilian striker. Pereira is also open to that possibility, if the situation is right.
“I’m ready to fight anybody. It doesn’t matter who it is,” Pereira said. “Right now, it’s Ankalaev’s time. I’m going to fight Ankalaev. But after this fight, [if] everything’s doing good, we’re going to give Jiri an opportunity. That’s what he said that he wants, and he’s going to have it.”
Great performance Jiri, CHAMA #UFC311
— Alex "Poatan" Pereira (@AlexPereiraUFC) January 19, 2025
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