The UFC 320 headliner is getting some pushback.
There isn’t as much hype for the rematch between Alex Pereira and champion Magomed Ankalaev a week out from their light heavyweight title fight.
Ankalaev and Pereira went the full 25-minute distance at UFC 313 in March, with Ankalaev dethroning Pereira by unanimous decision.
It was a long time coming for Ankalaev, who had to fight three more times for another title opportunity after going to a draw in his first title fight with Jan Blachowicz in 2022.
Ahead of their rematch at UFC 320, a former title challenger says the UFC ‘tried everything’ to stop Ankalaev from getting to this position.
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Chael Sonnen weighs in on Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira 2
‘Big Ank’ isn’t exactly the UFC’s most marketable champion, with UFC analyst Din Thomas even suggesting they trade Ankalaev for PFL’s Dakota Ditcheva.
Regardless, Ankalaev made himself undeniable for the title with a 13-fight unbeaten streak, ending Pereira’s exciting reign as light heavyweight champion.
Former UFC star Chael Sonnen recently commented on the upcoming rematch, saying he wasn’t a fan of the initial booking.
“The first fight wasn’t asked for,” Sonnen said of Pereira vs. Ankalaev on his YouTube channel.
“The first time that these guys fought was because we found ourselves in a situation where there was just nowhere else to go.
“And believe me, we tried everything,” Sonnen continued.
“We tried to get [Aleksandar] Rakic to derail the train. We brought Khalil in as the No. 8 guy and we did everything we could to not make the fight.
“Okay. Finally, we gotta make the fight. Well, now we’re remaking the fight…
“The same fight that nobody asked for,” Sonnen said.
“I can’t imagine, I just can’t, that we would then go to a part three.
“And if Pereira wins, it would seem as though we have to go to a part three. It would be wrong not to do,” Sonnen said of a potential trilogy between Pereira and Ankalaev.
The UFC tried to make Magomed Ankalaev vs. Jiri Prochazka
The rematch between Ankalaev and Pereira was actually in talks for the summer.
Pereira was allegedly offered to fight Ankalaev at UFC 317 in June during International Fight Week, but ‘Poatan’ wanted more time since they fought in March.
As a result, former champion and Pereira rival Jiri Prochazka says the UFC offered him a title fight with Ankalaev at UFC 317.
However, Prochazka turned down the title opportunity to focus on his university exams.
Prochazka returns against Khalil Rountree Jr. on the UFC 320 main card.