There’s a saying that “history repeats itself,” and that might be the case in the UFC world right now. Remember the situation between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor? No, not the infamous leg break at UFC 264 that derailed McGregor’s career, but rather the bet they made before their second encounter at UFC 257. For those who don’t recall, McGregor, riding high from his wins over Donald Cerrone and Poirier, promised to donate $500,000 to Poirier’s Good Fight Foundation—a charity dedicated to multiple philanthropic efforts on the part of ‘The Diamond’.

The Irishman’s donation was specifically targeted at building a gym for underprivileged kids in Lafayette, Louisiana. However, after Poirier won their rematch, the money never came, sparking a controversy that UFC legends Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen recently revisited. So, why is this topic resurfacing now? It is concerning Alex Pereira making a similar bet with Magomed Ankalaev ahead of their UFC 313 clash. While discussing this, Sonnen brought up McGregor’s past dispute with Poirier, reminding fans that the Irishman never followed through.

Sonnen explained: “You might remember Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier had a $500,000 something, and Conor never paid up. And Dustin called him on it and said, ‘Hey, that check never came.’ And Conor said, ‘That was a charity, that was not a debt.’ I think the argument was, ‘I have as much time to pay you as I want,’ but either way, he never wrote the check.”

Cormier then chimed in and added: “Yeah, it was for the Good Fight Foundation, Dustin’s foundation. You beat me, I’ll give you $500,000, Dustin goes, ‘Hey man, you said it.’ Now, hey, I don’t know that Dustin would’ve paid $500 grand if he lost the fight himself. Because that’s a big number.”

After Poirier’s victory over Conor McGregor, things took an unexpected turn when McGregor went back on his promise to donate $500,000 to Poirier’s Good Fight Foundation. ‘The Diamond’ later called out the Irish superstar on social media, revealing that one of the richest MMA fighters had failed to pay up on his pledge.

Now, a similar situation is unfolding ahead of UFC 313, as Alex Pereira has stepped up with his challenge to Magomed Ankalaev. Taking to Instagram, Pereira boldly proposed a high-stakes bet. The 205lbs champ said, “Since you’re so confident you’ll win, $200,000 to the winner’s charity of choice.”

The challenge was meant to be a bold yet generous way to give back to those in need. However, Ankalaev quickly shut it down, citing his religious beliefs. Responding via X, the Dagestani wrote: “As a Muslim, you know betting is forbidden in Islam.” Despite Ankalaev declining the wager, Pereira remains committed to donating $200,000 to charity—even if he loses. However, for Ankalaev, the situation is not as straightforward.

Why? Because Islam strictly prohibits gambling and betting. And by accepting the bet, Ankalaev would be going against his beliefs if he accepted the challenge. While Pereira intended to use the wager for a good cause, it’s clear that for Ankalaev, it’s not just about the money. It’s also about faith.

Magomed Ankalaev clears the air after refusing to accept Alex Pereira’s challenge

So why is Alex Pereira’s charity bet a difficult decision for Magomed Ankalaev? It’s not just about religious beliefs—there’s also a financial aspect to consider. Unlike ‘Poatan’ who commands a massive paycheck, Ankalaev’s reported base salary is around $200,000. If he wins at UFC 313, he will likely earn more through bonuses and incentives. However, if he loses, wagering such a large sum could take a significant chunk out of his earnings.

Adding to the challenge, Ankalaev is already competing while fasting for Ramadan, a major test of his discipline and endurance. Taking additional financial risks isn’t something he’s willing to do. The Dagestani fighter addressed Pereira’s bet directly on X and explained:

“As a Muslim, you know betting is forbidden in Islam, and also as a Muslim, every year I have to give 2.5% of my wealth to charity. This is one of the five pillars of Islam. Many kids around the world are in need, and we can do things after the fight, but we don’t have to publicize it.”

Ankalaev made it clear that he already donates to charity as part of his faith. But he prefers to give quietly rather than turn it into a public spectacle. With UFC 313 just around the corner, the question remains—will Pereira’s confidence translate into another dominant victory? And if ‘Poatan’ wins, will Ankalaev reconsider his stance on donating publicly?