Fresh off his stunning victory at UFC 313, new light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev has thrown down the gauntlet, calling out former champ Alex Pereira after UFC CEO Dana White’s electrifying title fight reveals on Instagram Live. While White mapped out a thrilling slate of championship bouts through September, the highly anticipated Ankalaev-Pereira rematch was conspicuously absent, fueling speculation and tension.
Ankalaev, now reigning supreme in the 205-pound division, didn’t hold back. The Dagestani powerhouse claimed Pereira and Jiri Prochazka ducked a title showdown at International Fight Week. Taking to X, Ankalaev fired a bold shot at ‘Poatan’:
“Chama, you better show up in Abu Dhabi. Don’t be scared, homie!”
Fans exploded in the comments, with one declaring: “Chama’s reign is OVER. Ankalaev’s the king now!”
Others piled on:
- “Kid’s desperate for Pereira’s star power—he’s got no PPV pull solo.”
- “Chama’s dodging the real smoke, only wants scripted fights!”
- “Ankalaev calling anyone ‘homie’? That’s Ali Abdelaziz typing, not him.”
- “Worst champ ever. Just hugs his way to wins. Snooze.”
Pereira’s X Hack Drama: Did Ankalaev Pull a Digital TKO?
Adding fuel to the fire, Pereira recently stirred controversy with a critical UFC post on X, only to later claim his account was hacked. The explanation sparked skepticism across the MMA world, with fans and fighters questioning its legitimacy. Enter Ankalaev’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, who dropped a bombshell on Submission Radio:
“Pereira’s been slacking in the gym, and his account? Hacked. I’m dead serious—Ankalaev’s behind it. They’re calling him ‘Hackalaev’ now. He’s tech-savvy like that.”
Abdelaziz’s tongue-in-cheek accusation has only intensified the rivalry, setting the stage for a blockbuster rematch. Will Pereira answer Ankalaev’s taunts, or is ‘Chama’ truly shaken? Stay tuned for the latest updates on this sizzling UFC saga.
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About the Author: Sunil Krishnan
Sunil Krishnan, a visual communication graduate, kicked off his career in 2023, contributing to outlets like FirstSportz and Levitate Studios. A passionate MMA fan since Conor McGregor’s 2017 boxing clash with Floyd Mayweather, Sunil’s favorite fighter is Jorge Masvidal for his unpredictable, all-action style. His MMA Mount Rushmore features legends Chuck Liddell, Anderson Silva, Alex Pereira, Daniel Cormier, and Khabib Nurmagomedov. He believes ONE Championship star Rodtang Jitmuangnon could dominate in the UFC with his explosive power.
Sunil advocates for stricter UFC rules on eye pokes and supports soccer kicks in MMA. Outside the cage, he’s an anime enthusiast, a film buff, and a boxing historian inspired by icons like Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran.
