Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira‘s UFC 313 title showdown is an intriguing matchup of styles. While we know what we will get from the 205-pound god-king, how the Dagestani will approach the fight remains to be seen. The Brazilian is a concussive striker and will try to keep the fight on the feet, but Ankalaev’s gameplan can be a mixed bag.

After all, The #1 ranked light heavyweight is also primarily a striker but has some good skills on the ground. Things are even more complicated by the Dagestani claiming that he wants to strike with Pereira, even if the best strategy against ‘Poatan’ would be to take him down and maul him there. And this uncertainty around their matchup was perfectly described by undefeated middleweight, Bo Nickal, on his official YouTube channel. Nickal may be pretty new to the sport, but he is one of the most promising prospects in the entire promotion.

After all, the American is a three-time NCAA D1 wrestling champ and was already a combat sports star coming into the promotion. And if anyone can break down the grappling of Ankalaev, it is Nickal. “Here’s the deal, I think Ankalaev is a smart guy, he’s gonna take him [Pereira] down. He’s just gonna take him down, I don’t think his wrestling is unbelievable. Like, he’s not a wrestler. People think ‘Oh Russian- wrestler’. No, he’s not a wrestler. I think Pereira is going to win as well. If Ankalaev, like, just wrestles the whole fight, he could probably win,” Nickal said.

Of course, this fear that Ankalaev would turn the Pereira fight into a grappling match is precisely why many suspect the UFC was so hesitant to book this bout. After all, the Russian was passed over multiple times last year for a title shot, despite being the most deserving of it. But Nickal feels that the fears of the Dagestani’s grappling are a bit exaggerated. Partly because Ankalaev’s grappling isn’t quite world-class.

This is why except for a pure wrestling match, the undefeated middleweight doesn’t see Ankalaev beating Pereira. “But I don’t think his wrestling is that good. He wrestled with Paul Craig and Paul Craig was taking him down, and Paul Craig was reversing him. And so, I mean Craig ended up submitting him. But I feel like not impressed with his ground game, his grappling. He’s going to have to strike with him at some point and I think Pereira will knock him out,” he added.

But this is not the opinion that the bookmakers- whose entire job relies on making accurate predictions agree with. Let’s see how the stakes line up.

Magomed Ankalaev’s potentially career-defining dilemma for UFC 313

Magomed Ankalaev has opened as the betting favorite for the Pereira fight. A slight betting favorite, but a favorite nonetheless. But there is perhaps one very important thing that people, including the bookmakers, are forgetting. UFC 313 is set for March 8, ten days into the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which starts on February 28.

All devout Muslims are required to fast during Ramadan, and cannot even drink water during daylight hours. Ankalaev himself, of course, is a Muslim. If he chooses to fast for the ten days before March 8, that could make the fight exponentially harder for the Dagestani. If he chooses to fast, that is.

He may well not fast for the first ten days until UFC 313. But then that means the Dagestani would have to choose between his faith and his career. Of course, some even think that the UFC did this deliberately to try and put Ankalaev at a disadvantage. Why? Well, why else than to protect its golden goose?

After all, ‘Poatan’ is the biggest star in the promotion at the moment. And a loss would somewhat lessen the aura and sheen around him. What do you think about Bo Nickal’s take on the Pereira-Ankalaev matchup?