While Magomed Ankalaev is supremely confident he has the skills to defeat Alex Pereira, an ex-UFC champion isn’t convinced.
The pair of light heavyweight titans have been on a collision course for a long time, with fans desperate to see the icons finally go toe-to-toe inside the cage.
Jan Blachowicz is confident Alex Pereira will beat Magomed Ankalaev
Jan Blachowicz believes Magomed Ankalaev could be in for a rude awakening when he sets foot inside the cage with Alex Pereira.
While the major clash has yet to be formally announced, the MMA community is hopeful that the UFC can get the match-up over the line.
‘Polish Power’ fought the Russian himself at UFC 282, with the fight ending in a controversial draw, with many believing his opponent had done enough to get his hand raised.
Regardless, while he rates his old rival, Blachowciz is concerned for what will happen when the contender clashes with ‘Poatan’.
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In an interview with Home of Fight, he said: “If Ankalaev will fight like last fight with Aleksandar Rakic, he will lose the fight. So, he needs to do something more.
“He is a good fighter, but it’s not enough for Pereira in this kind of style. He needs to change, he has to believe in what he’s doing, I don’t think he believes, he just wants to win the fight, but don’t take too much punches, he’s very careful. This is what he’s doing. I think this kind of way with Pereira, will not work.”
Jan Blachowicz is training at a secret camp ahead of Carlos Ulberg fight
As well as having fought Ankalaev, the Pole has also exchanged leather with Pereira, indicating that he’s still very much in the picture at the top of the light-heavyweight tree.
With that in mind, he’s hoping to produce a big performance against Carlos Ulberg to earn another shot at the throne, even going as far as training in an unnamed facility.
Blachowicz claimed: “[The camp is] a secret for now… I need to change something. Because I’m almost 42. So, I need to train in a little bit different way. But we are gonna do similar things. I know how to beat people; I know how to fight. I don’t want to be tired in the fight. So I have to focus on the cardio.
“I have got everything. I have got knockout punch power, I’ve got good striking, I’ve got good wrestling, I’ve got good jiu-jitsu game. I need to focus on the cardio. Because last time, with Pereira, my breath was very heavy, I don’t want to do this mistake anymore.”
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