Pereira Criticized Ankalaev Before UFC 307 Title Defense
Before his October 2024 title defense, Alex Pereira criticized Magomed Ankalaev’s fighting style, arguing that it explained why the contender was not selected for a title shot. Pereira instead faced Khalil Rountree Jr. and won by fourth-round TKO. The debate did not end there: Pereira and Ankalaev met twice for the light heavyweight belt over the next year.
The rivalry reaches the title
In March 2025, Ankalaev won a unanimous decision to take Pereira’s title, with all three judges scoring the fight 49–46 or 48–47. Pereira earned an immediate rematch that October and reclaimed the championship with a first-round stoppage at 1:20. The pair’s rivalry turned Pereira’s earlier remarks into a real title story, with each man holding the belt after one of their meetings.
Pereira’s next chapter
Pereira later moved to heavyweight and challenged Ciryl Gane for the interim title in June 2026. Gane stopped him in round two. Pereira is scheduled to face Sergei Pavlovich in Las Vegas on December 12, 2026, in his second heavyweight appearance. Ankalaev returned in July 2026 and stopped Bogdan Guskov in the fifth round.
What began as a public disagreement about style and matchmaking produced two championship bouts. Their first fight rewarded Ankalaev’s measured approach; the rematch ended quickly, with Pereira regaining the belt before beginning his move up in weight.
