Magomed Ankalaev Says He Was Offered Alex Pereira Rematch At UFC 317
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 08: Magomed Ankalaev of Russia reacts after a unanimous-decision victory ... More against Alex Pereira of Brazil in the UFC light heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 313 event at T-Mobile Arena on March 08, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
Earlier this week, UFC CEO Dana White announced a handful of fights for the UFC 317 pay-per-view fight card. One bout absent from that list was a light heavyweight title fight between current champion Magomed Ankalaev and the man he defeated to earn that title, Alex Pereira. According to Ankalaev, that fight not being part of UFC 317 and International Fight Week in Las Vegas wasn't due to lack of trying on the part of the promotion.
According to the champ, who earned the UFC light heavyweight crown with a unanimous decision victory over Pereira at UFC 313 in March, the promotion reached out to him to book a rematch during International Fight Week.
'I was offered to fight Alex [at] International Fight Week,' Ankalaev wrote on X. 'If the man don't want it let's move on. I'm ready for everyone. I dare you.'
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 08: Alex Pereira of Brazil reacts after a decision loss against Magomed ... More Ankalaev of Russia in the UFC light heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 313 event at T-Mobile Arena on March 08, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
On May 7, Pereira wrote on X, "I always answered the UFC's calls, but if they want to play with me, we can do that. I've never spoken poorly of the UFC but with what I've just heard I'm disheartened. I've already had thoughts of not fighting anymore, and after what was just relayed to me this may be the start.'
The former champ later claimed that he had been hacked. A story that many, including UFC commentator Daniel Cormier, did not believe.
'First off, Pereira's a liar,' Cormier said. 'Pereira did not get hacked [on Wednesday]. Pereira might've tweeted something, and then somebody called him and was like, 'Yo, calm down. Let's chill.'
'I don't believe the hack thing, bro. It's too convenient. It was too specific. I'm saying it publicly," added the former two-division UFC champion.
On Tuesday, May 13, the UFC light heavyweight champ wrote on X, 'I hope CHAMA will show up in Abu Dhabi, don't be scared homie.'
While, 'chama' is not a nickname Pereira uses, it is a word that he has become known for.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 08: Magomed Ankalaev of Russia reacts after a unanimous-decision victory ... More against Alex Pereira of Brazil in the UFC light heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 313 event at T-Mobile Arena on March 08, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
I wrote the following about Ankalaev's title-winning performance at UFC 313:
"Magomed Ankalaev and his team put together, implemented, and stuck with a strong game plan for Saturday's fight against Alex Pereira. The strategy was to pressure Pereira, land effective strikes, keep the threat of a takedown in Pereira's head, and exploit his lack of defensive movement. Ankalaev did just that, seeming to freeze Pereira over the final 20 minutes of the fight and avoid taking any serious damage.
"Fans might not have liked the performance, and the UFC is most likely not going to be overjoyed to see the light heavyweight title move from a knockout artist like Pereira to a fighter like Ankalaev, who is known more for decisions than stoppages, but that's where they are following UFC 313.
'Ankalaev fought smartly and effectively, managing risk while doing enough damage to carry all three scorecards. Fans don't have to like it, but there's no controversy in the decision.'
Pereira is the No. 1 ranked fighter in the official UFC light heavyweight rankings.
UFC 317 takes place on June 28 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main event is a lightweight title fight between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira. Also on the fight card is a bout between flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Kara-France.
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