Magomed Ankalaev is not fazed by Alex Pereira’s alleged “voodoo stuff.” Over the past two years, Pereira has established himself as a formidable force in the UFC, earning the title of reigning light heavyweight champion. His impressive run has led former opponent Jiri Prochazka to suggest that Pereira might be using magic or spiritual powers inside the Octagon.
This notion of Pereira’s supposed use of magic has sparked considerable discussion in the 205-pound division. Recently, Ankalaev took to X to respond to Pereira’s unflattering rating of him as a five out of ten fighter. He stated, “This guy says I’m at level five; I’m in this guy’s head. Please do not close Saturday. I promise you this voodoo stuff will not work with me. I pray five times a day. I am protected.”
Israel Adesanya weighed in on the conversation during a recent appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, JRE MMA Show. He echoed Jiri Prochazka’s claims about Pereira, suggesting that the champion possesses a unique spirit or influence that contributes to his success in combat sports.
Ankalaev’s Path to the Title
Despite having a solid case for the next UFC light heavyweight title shot, Ankalaev has faced setbacks. The 32-year-old Russian has achieved a remarkable record of 10 wins in his last 11 fights (with one no contest), including a spectacular second-round knockout victory over Johnny Walker in January.
However, the UFC has instead granted the number eight-ranked Khalil Rountree Jr. a shot at Pereira during Saturday’s UFC 307. In the meantime, Ankalaev is focused on securing another victory to bolster his position in the light heavyweight rankings.
Scheduled to fight on October 26 at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi, Ankalaev will face number five-ranked Aleksandar Rakic, who is looking to bounce back from consecutive losses to Jan Blachowicz and Jiri Prochazka.
A win at UFC 308 would undoubtedly position Ankalaev for a title shot, especially since the other top contenders in the division are coming off defeats. But first, Ankalaev must concentrate on overcoming Rakic in what promises to be a crucial bout for his championship aspirations.
