As 2024 comes to an end, UFC light heavyweight top-ranked contender Magomed Ankalaev has one wish left unfulfilled—to see himself crowned as the division’s champion. However, this may be a challenging goal as reigning champion Alex Pereira appears to have his sights set elsewhere. Pereira is reportedly eyeing a move to the heavyweight division, aiming for bouts against top heavyweights like Jon Jones in pursuit of becoming a three-division champion.
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Despite Pereira’s ambitious aspirations, UFC President Dana White has dismissed such plans for now. This leaves Pereira with no immediate challengers, potentially opening the door for Ankalaev. Yet, according to Ankalaev, the much-anticipated title fight remains uncertain.
Speaking to TASS, Ankalaev accused Pereira of delaying the matchup, stating, “Pereira has not yet agreed to the fight.” However, Ankalaev remains optimistic, hinting that the fight could materialize after Ramadan next year, saying, “But sooner or later, it will happen. I think the fight can take place in May.”
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But it’s not just Pereira standing in Ankalaev’s way. Ankalaev has also found himself in a verbal feud with Jon Jones. The tension started when rumors of a potential Jones-Aspinall matchup ignited, leading Ankalaev to accuse Jones of avoiding Tom Aspinall and fighting lower-ranked opponents instead.
The back-and-forth escalated with Jones firing back at Ankalaev, calling him “jealous.” On his X handle, Jones wrote, “Magomed jealousy won’t earn you legend status, my friend. Train harder, hate less. Want to truly insult me? Break some of my records first. Let’s get started.” Now, Ankalaev has added Jon Jones to his list of rivals, alongside Alex Pereira.
Jon Jones or Pereira: whom does Magomed Ankalaev want to face first?
Despite not becoming champion in 2024, Magomed Ankalaev remains hopeful that the next year will bring him fortune and success, helping carve his legacy in the UFC. He aspires to be on equal footing with other Dagestani fighters like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev. While Ankalaev has yet to secure another fight, he is still riding high on his recent win against Aleksandar Rakić at UFC Abu Dhabi (UFC 308). Ankalaev recently appeared at a press conference in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, for the 2024 MMA World Championships, where a reporter asked whom he would like to face first—Jon Jones or Alex Pereira.
In a lighthearted response, Ankalaev compared both Jones and Pereira to “desserts,” saying they were both “very tasty.” However, he emphasized that Pereira is in his division, and if given the choice, he would prefer to face him first. Ankalaev said, “The desserts are both very tasty [smiles]. But Pereira is in my division, so I would choose him. I think I have done everything to deserve the next title shot. I’d like to talk to Alex and I’d like to tell him, ‘Hey, stop running away from me.’ We should fight.”
What do you think about Magomed Ankalaev’s claim? Do you believe Alex Pereira is intentionally avoiding a fight with him, despite being one of the UFC’s busiest fighters this year? Doesn’t Pereira deserve some time to rest? Share your thoughts below!
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Edited by
Gokul Pillai