Pereira and Ankalaev Trade Barbs Before Their Title Fights
In December 2024, Pereira wrote “It won’t be Ankalaev!” online. Ankalaev replied by calling him a “chicken.”
What sparked the exchange
Pereira’s post followed a longer dispute over matchmaking. In September 2024, he criticized Ankalaev’s style as “boring,” while also saying he was ready to fight him and could show his own ground game. Ankalaev responded that Pereira knew why he was not fighting him. MMA Fighting reported that exchange.
By December, Pereira wrote that Ankalaev would not be his next opponent. Ankalaev responded five hours later with the “chicken” jab, according to MMA Fighting. The delay was attributed to open matchmaking options.
They fought for the title at UFC 313
The matchup was eventually booked for UFC 313 on March 8, 2025. Ankalaev defeated Pereira by unanimous decision to win the light heavyweight title. The official scorecards show 49-46, 48-47 and 48-47.
Pereira won the rematch
Pereira and Ankalaev met again at UFC 320 on October 4, 2025. Pereira stopped Ankalaev by first-round TKO at 1:20 and reclaimed the title. UFC’s event report records the result.
