Ali Abdelaziz thinks harder tests await Magomed Ankalaev once he gets past Alex Pereira for a second time.
Ankalaev had long been tipped to reach the UFC’s light heavyweight throne, and he realized that goal this past March in Las Vegas.
In the main event of UFC 313, Ankalaev brought Pereira’s reign to an end after three successful defenses, achieving what Jiri Prochazka, Jamahal Hill, and Khalil Rountree Jr. had all failed to in 2024 by unseating the feared knockout artist.
An immediate rematch was quickly proposed, and that will finally go down when Ankalaev vs Pereira 2 headlines UFC 320 on October 4. On that night, however, the newly crowned champion’s manager does not expect his fighter to be standing across from his biggest threat in the division…
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Ali Abdelaziz sees Carlos Ulberg as a bigger threat to Magomed Ankalaev than Alex Pereira
Pereira had enjoyed a dominant stint on the throne before running into Ankalaev. After knocking out Prochazka to claim the throne, ‘Poatan’ quickly finished Jamahal Hill before getting the better of ‘BJP’ in a rematch.
In the former middleweight and light heavyweight champ’s last successful defense, Pereira battered Rountree Jr. in a brutal finish at UFC 307 to come from behind after a slow start.
Despite those results and the relatively competitive nature of their five-round fight earlier this year, Ankalaev’s manager seemingly does not see the Brazilian former kickboxer as a major threat to the Russian’s status.
He won’t say the same for the contender two spots below Pereira on the light heavyweight ladder, though.
“I want to see him (Ankalaev) knocking out Alex Pereira next fight,” Abdelaziz told Submission Radio. “I want to see him defend the title, clean (out) the division.
“Right now, there is a lot of contenders he has not fought. He has not fought Jiri yet, he has not fought Jamahal yet, he has not fought…Carlos (Ulberg).
“Carlos, I am a big fan of this guy,” Abdelaziz continued. “I think he is really good, honestly. I think he is very underrated.
“I think Carlos may be a tougher fight for Ankalaev than Alex Pereira, in my opinion.”
Ulberg will face Dominick Reyes at UFC Perth, looking to stake his claim for a first title shot by reeling off his ninth consecutive victory. The 12-1 Kiwi most recently got the better of Jan Blachowicz via decision in London.
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Magomed Ankalaev is planning a definitive end to Alex Pereira feud
Before Ankalaev looks ahead to challenges from other top names in the 205-pound division, he must first survive Pereira’s shot at revenge on October 4 in Las Vegas.
After a close first fight that some even gave to ‘Poatan’, the Dagestani champion is looking to put an exclamation point on the rematch.
Ankalaev wants to leave no doubt against Pereira the second time around, and for that reason, he is hoping nothing presents itself as a potential excuse for the Brazilian in the aftermath.
“I think the rematch will be much easier than the first fight,” Ankalaev told Sport24ru.
“Statistics always show that fighting me in a rematch is very dangerous. I think we’ll prove again that it’s not a good idea to face me in a rematch.
“I don’t think we’ll have any problems anywhere,” Ankalaev continued. “I actually want him to come into this fight 100 percent so there are no questions about the outcome.”