Latest news with #Ankalaev
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Dominick Reyes: UFC champ Magomed Ankalaev and I are very similar, 'but I'm just better'
Dominick Reyes has got his mojo back ahead of his potential title eliminator vs. Carlos Ulberg. Reyes (14-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) takes on Ulberg (12-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) in a 205-pound UFC Fight Night main event on Sept. 27 from RAC Arena in Perth in Western Australia. Light heavyweight champion Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) will run things back with Alex Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) in the UFC 320 headliner on Oct. 4 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. With Jiri Prochazka facing Khalil Rountree on the same card, Reyes admits he might have to wait for his shot if he gets past Ulberg. But having trained with Pereira before, Reyes prefers fighting Ankalaev – a matchup he likes for himself. "I'd much rather fight Ankalaev for sure," Reyes told Submission Radio. "Honestly, I feel like me and Ankalaev are very similar, but I'm just better. We have a very similar fighting style. I think it's almost the same, but he's a little bit more technical than I am in terms of patience, and I'm more willing to jump in the fire." Reyes admits he was surprised with Pereira's approach in his title loss to Ankalaev at UFC 313 in March. "I think it will be different in the sense that Alex actually had time off, and he's had time to better prepare," Reyes said. "He fought, what, four times in a year or something? I think him losing that fight made him have to dig in more. I think it will be a different fight. Alex has worked extremely hard, and he's very focused. "Don't get me wrong: Ankalaev is very good fighter. Alex looked lackluster in the last fight,, which is rare. He didn't pull the trigger, which is not very common for him. It could have just been Ankalaev's movement, and his threat of the takedown, kept Alex on his heels."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chael Sonnen perplexed by Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira 2: 'Nobody asked for this'
Chael Sonnen can't find the demand that led to booking a light heavyweight title rematch between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira at UFC 320. "Nobody asked for this rematch," Sonnen told MMA Junkie. "You didn't ask for it. I didn't ask for it. You couldn't go to Twitter, you couldn't go to Google, you couldn't even get Grok to show you a person that asked for this rematch. (Dana White) said, 'Listen, it's the best against the best. This is what we do here, and therefore it's this fight.'" Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) defeated Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) by unanimous decision at UFC 313 in March to claim the 205-pound belt. Prior to that, "Poatan" had recorded three consecutive defenses of the belt in record-setting fashion against Jamahal Hill, Jiri Prochazka and Khalil Rountree Jr. With Pereira displeased with his performance in the initial meeting, Ankalaev keen to do it again and the weight class baron of a better contender, the promotion put together an immediate rematch. The fight headlines UFC 320 on Oct. 4 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+). Three-time UFC title challenger and longtime ESPN analyst Sonnen isn't thrilled about seeing a sequel. He said he would've far preferred Pereira move to heavyweight, where he could get fresh fights against more interesting opponents. "I still wish that he would become a heavyweight," Sonnen said. "There's not another fight at 205 that I want to see for him. He definitely wants to be a heavyweight, and he's even telling that story on his own Instagram where he's putting out pictures on the scale, and he's 246. He's putting out the message to the audience, 'I'm big enough to this, this is what I want to do.' But why do we have to get him beat twice? "If he gets beat (at UFC 320) and he becomes a heavyweight, aren't we in that spot right now? And we were just looking for a fight for Tom Aspinall. Then we went to Ciryl (Gane), which is another fight nobody asked for. I really did think Alex was going to get announced against Tom, just in the absence of, 'What are we going to do? Let's shake it up a little bit.'" Sonnen said the MMA world needs to "be prepared for if Alex loses" at UFC 320. The Brazilian would be sitting on a two-fight losing skid and in a far different spot than one year prior, when he had completed arguably one of the greatest runs in UFC history. Although Sonnen thinks "not a lot" negative would happen to Pereira's star power with a loss, it ultimately depends on how it happens in the cage. Even if he regains gold, though, Sonnen said the problematic scenarios don't stop at light heavyweight. "Why are we doing this? I don't know what Ankalaev gets if he wins," Sonnen said. "He already beat him. Nobody asked for this rematch, including Pereira. Ankalaev asked for it. It was a little bit odd. Ankalaev actually got a little bit nasty like, 'Come fight me.' He just did. What is it what you're planning? You're bringing the belt this time. It really was a bit of a confusing situation. "If Pereira wins, the right thing to do would be to go to a trilogy. So now you're telling me you've not only got to see him fight Ankalaev again, which we didn't want the first time. We didn't ask for it this (second) time. Now you're telling me we might have to see it for 10 more rounds? I think it creates more problems than it solves. That's what I think." This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Chael Sonnen: 'Nobody asked for' Ankalaev vs. Pereira at UFC 320
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Chael Sonnen perplexed by Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira 2: 'Nobody asked for this'
Chael Sonnen can't find the demand that led to booking a light heavyweight title rematch between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira at UFC 320. "Nobody asked for this rematch," Sonnen told MMA Junkie. "You didn't ask for it. I didn't ask for it. You couldn't go to Twitter, you couldn't go to Google, you couldn't even get Grok to show you a person that asked for this rematch. (Dana White) said, 'Listen, it's the best against the best. This is what we do here, and therefore it's this fight.'" Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) defeated Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) by unanimous decision at UFC 313 in March to claim the 205-pound belt. Prior to that, "Poatan" had recorded three consecutive defenses of the belt in record-setting fashion against Jamahal Hill, Jiri Prochazka and Khalil Rountree Jr. With Pereira displeased with his performance in the initial meeting, Ankalaev keen to do it again and the weight class baron of a better contender, the promotion put together an immediate rematch. The fight headlines UFC 320 on Oct. 4 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+). Three-time UFC title challenger and longtime ESPN analyst Sonnen isn't thrilled about seeing a sequel. He said he would've far preferred Pereira move to heavyweight, where he could get fresh fights against more interesting opponents. "I still wish that he would become a heavyweight," Sonnen said. "There's not another fight at 205 that I want to see for him. He definitely wants to be a heavyweight, and he's even telling that story on his own Instagram where he's putting out pictures on the scale, and he's 246. He's putting out the message to the audience, 'I'm big enough to this, this is what I want to do.' But why do we have to get him beat twice? "If he gets beat (at UFC 320) and he becomes a heavyweight, aren't we in that spot right now? And we were just looking for a fight for Tom Aspinall. Then we went to Ciryl (Gane), which is another fight nobody asked for. I really did think Alex was going to get announced against Tom, just in the absence of, 'What are we going to do? Let's shake it up a little bit.'" Sonnen said the MMA world needs to "be prepared for if Alex loses" at UFC 320. The Brazilian would be sitting on a two-fight losing skid and in a far different spot than one year prior, when he had completed arguably one of the greatest runs in UFC history. Although Sonnen thinks "not a lot" negative would happen to Pereira's star power with a loss, it ultimately depends on how it happens in the cage. Even if he regains gold, though, Sonnen said the problematic scenarios don't stop at light heavyweight. "Why are we doing this? I don't know what Ankalaev gets if he wins," Sonnen said. "He already beat him. Nobody asked for this rematch, including Pereira. Ankalaev asked for it. It was a little bit odd. Ankalaev actually got a little bit nasty like, 'Come fight me.' He just did. What is it what you're planning? You're bringing the belt this time. It really was a bit of a confusing situation. "If Pereira wins, the right thing to do would be to go to a trilogy. So now you're telling me you've not only got to see him fight Ankalaev again, which we didn't want the first time. We didn't ask for it this (second) time. Now you're telling me we might have to see it for 10 more rounds? I think it creates more problems than it solves. That's what I think."
News18
23-07-2025
- Sport
- News18
UFC Octoberfest: Major Bouts Announced For 320, 321
UFC 320 and 321 promise MMA drama. Las Vegas hosts Ankalaev vs. Pereira 2 and Dvalishvili vs. Sandhagen, while Abu Dhabi features Aspinall vs. Gane. As the nights draw in and autumn grabs hold, MMA fans are blessed with a double bill of carnage and championship drama. UFC 320 and UFC 321 are about to turn October 2025 into a wall-to-wall highlight reel. Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi, two cities miles apart, will witness history as belts, bragging rights, and possibly entire divisions shift before our very eyes. From vengeance-laden rematches to heavyweight collision courses, here's your front-row seat to MMA's ultimate Octoberfest. Main Event: Ankalaev vs. Pereira 2: Redemption or Regicide? Step into the T-Mobile Arena and you won't just hear buzz: you'll feel it. Magomed Ankalaev, the light heavyweight champ, enters the cage with his signature poker face and even tighter strategy. Their first dance at UFC 313 was cerebral, not savage, as Ankalaev tamed Pereira with grappling threats and stand-up feints, denying fans the Pereira highlight reel they craved. But Alex Pereira does his best work in rematches. The Brazilian is famed for rewriting narratives under the brightest lights. After a listless display last time, and losing his title (and aura), Pereira's camp hints at aggression—look for brisk low kicks, sniper (left) hooks, and feigned retreats to bait Ankalaev into the kill zone. Merab Dvalishvili is appropriately called the machine; with thirteen wins on the trot, he's made the transition from 'that dude from Georgia" to the UFC's most suffocating force. He's grappled, ground, and gassed out two standouts—O'Malley and Nurmagomedov—in 2025 alone. Standing across the gold line: Cory Sandhagen, the division's trickster and technician. Sandhagen's movement is balletic, his strikes precision-guided, his confidence the quiet kind. Can he keep Merab off him for five rounds, carving up the champ from range? Or will the 'Machine" simply wear him down, strip his gears, and leave Sandhagen scrambling for breath? This is classic striker vs. grinder, with five rounds to decide the fate of the 135-lb kingdom. The words 'Fight of the Year" are thrown around too easily, but when Jiri Prochazka and Khalil Rountree Jr. walk in, chaos feels inevitable. Prochazka's style is martial arts jazz—puzzling, unpredictable, and at times, blissfully reckless. With a head full of samurai quotes and an armory of unorthodox attacks, he brings a unique flavor to light heavyweight wars. Rountree Jr. counters with pure Muay Thai muscle and a highlight reel loaded with violent finishes. Both balled through Jamahal Hill in style earlier this year. Whoever lands clean first likely walks away ranked, relevant, and possibly next in line for the division's big belt dance. With Jon Jones now legend and memory, the heavyweight throne now Tom Aspinall's, Ciryl Gane will lock horns with the Englishman at the Etihad Arena to determine the true champion of a division that had been stagnant for too long. Aspinall is what scientists might build if asked for the perfect heavyweight: nimble, fast-fisted, and equally sick on the mat. His finishing stats are fearsome, most wins wrapped up before you've finished your first round nachos. Yet Gane is no one's stepping stone. His movement is ballet crossed with bone-breaking, and his striking is clinical. The consensus: if Aspinall bulldozes forward, Gane will slide, slip, and snipe. But if Gane's defensive wrestling hasn't leveled up since Jon Jones steamrolled him, the Brit's mix of takedowns, heavy hands, and ground strikes could spell a quick night. This is heavyweight, reimagined: a matchup where agility matters, and anyone can lead the dance. Though not officially announced, this major heavyweight bout is rumoured for 321, as it will set up the next potential challenger for the title. Alexander Volkov is now a heavyweight mainstay, known for his teep kicks, textbook jab, and climbing ever closer to the elusive title shot. Recent results paint him as technical, patient, and adaptive—save for a razor-thin loss to Gane, that caused major controversy. Enter Jailton Almeida—the submission machine. If he gets his mitts on you, good luck breathing for the rest of the round. His wrestling is relentless, and his mat control absolute, as victims Romanov and Spivac can attest. The question: can Volkov freeze Almeida long enough to keep it standing, or will the Brazilian chain-wrestle his way to another dominant win? Why October Matters: – Can Ankalaev shut down the 'Poatan storm" again, or does Pereira drop another highlight-reel finish for immortality? – Will the 'Machine" finally get short-circuited at bantamweight, or is Sandhagen's slick striking his saving grace? – Does the heavyweight division get a new era of speed and skill with Aspinall, or is Gane simply too smooth to hit? – And among the chaos merchants and on-the-cusp contenders, who will steal the show—and perhaps a golden ticket to a title shot? top videos View all Every bout, from title tilts to rising prospect showdowns, carries massive implications—championships, contenders, even careers hang in the balance. Both cards are looking to be devilishly stacked, clever in their matchmaking, and designed for pure spectacle. So, grab your snacks, assemble your crew, and cancel everything else. Because this October, the UFC throws down not one but two gauntlets—and you won't want to blink. News18 Sports brings you the latest updates, live commentary, and highlights from cricket, football, tennis, badmintion, wwe and more. Catch breaking news, live scores, and in-depth coverage. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : Alex Pereira mixed martial arts ufc view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 23, 2025, 11:10 IST News sports UFC Octoberfest: Major Bouts Announced For 320, 321 Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
USA Today
22-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Magomed Ankalaev, Alex Pereira to rematch in UFC 320 headliner
As expected, Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira will run it back. UFC CEO Dana White on Tuesday announced the rematch for the light heavyweight championship has been officially booked to headline UFC 320 on Oct. 4 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. White shared the news, along with other big matchups, on Instagram Live. The rematch between Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) and Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) has been talked about ever since Ankalaev dethroned Pereira with a close unanimous decision victory to claim the 205-pound title on March 8. In the ensuing months, the two men have feuded on social media, with Ankalaev growing impatient while he waited for Pereira to agree to the rematch. At one point, there appeared to be a rift between Pereira and the UFC brass following a cryptic tweet from Pereira indicating he was considering retirement because the UFC wasn't meeting his requests. Pereira went on to blame the post on his X account being hacked. Prior to losing the title, Pereira, 38, a former middleweight champion, was on a five-fight winning streak that included four consecutive championship bouts. Ankalaev, 33, hasn't tasted defeat since being submitted by Paul Craig in 2018, a stretch that includes 14 UFC appearances.
