Dricus du Plessis predicts Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev potential LHW title fight
The rumored Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev matchup for the light heavyweight title has been generating significant buzz in the MMA community.
While Ankalaev was initially expected to challenge for the title after his dominant victory over Johnny Walker, the UFC opted to book a fight between Pereira and Khalil Rountree Jr. instead. However, Ankalaev's recent win over Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 308 has put the Russian in a strong position in the title mix.
Weighing in on the 205-pound title picture, middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis recently shared his thoughts on the matchup, giving 'Poatan' a slight edge. He acknowledged Ankalaev's strong wrestling and well-rounded skill set but noted that Pereira's relentless aggression and knockout power make him a formidable opponent.
Speaking to ESPN MMA, he said:
"Obviously his [Ankalaev's] last performance [at UFC 308], not a big one. [Ankalaev] is a great fighter you know, he's an all-arounder obviously, has great wrestling. But I think maybe, you know, some fights that happen sometimes you... just don't have the night that you wish you had and yeah, it wasn't a great fight to watch. But, you know, Ankalaev... you know, has good good defense and he has good ground game and he has all that. We don't know what happens when Ankalaev takes Pereira down."
He added:
"Alex Pereira is an absolute machine. The man is, yeah right now hard to deny him as one of the greatest fighters in the UFC for sure. So you know I can't go against him at this stage unless he fights."
Check out Dricus du Plessis' comment below (18:38):
Magomed Ankalaev once again calls out Alex Pereira after UFC 308 victory
Following his unanimous decision victory over Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 308, Magomed Ankalaev issued a bold challenge to light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, urging him to stop avoiding a title fight.
In a bout mostly fought on the feet, Ankalaev demonstrated his striking prowess, dispelling the notion that he would rely solely on wrestling. His confidence surged as he pressured Rakic, forcing his opponent to fight defensively for much of the match. This performance solidified Ankalaev's place as the No.1-ranked light heavyweight.
In his post-fight comments, Ankalaev stated:
"I think I've done everything to deserve the next title shot. I'd like to talk to Alex [Pereira]. I'd like to tell him, 'Hey, stop running away from me. We should fight, that's what everybody wants to see.' Alex, stop running away from me."
Check out Magomed Ankalaev's post-fight interview below: