Alex Pereira responds to Magomed Ankalayev's consistent online assaults via various social platforms
Score a Rematch
Ex-UFC light heavyweight kingpin Alex Pereira suffered a setback when he lost his belt to Magomed Ankalaev in March, ending his golden streak of five victories, which included three title defenses. However, Ankalaev has been buzzing that Pereira, affectionately known as "Poatan," is skirting a rematch and may even be considering retirement. In an interview with UFC Brazil, Pereira squashed these rumors:
"He drops my name because nobody knows he's the champ. When he brings me up, at least he's making people remind him he exists."
Pereira Father Time be damned, he's got no plans to hang up the gloves: "I don't respond to his jibes because I understand it's just hype. When the time's right, I'll let everyone know my thoughts." Confident, he won't overhaul his game for a victory: "I just need to tweak some technical bits. I don't need a major overhaul - a few tweaks will suffice." As of now, a repeat bout between Pereira and Ankalaev isn't on the cards yet.
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🔍 Behind the Scenes:
Alex Pereira firmly believes that the rematch with Magomed Ankalaev will take place some time this year, giving him the upper hand[1]. Deadline-wise, Pereira has been given the ultimatum to accept the rematch by October, risking being skipped if he doesn't comply[2]. Despite the mounting pressure, Pereira stays positive about the rematch, asserting that minor adjustments to his strategy will spell the difference in his performance against Ankalaev[1].
Pereira's spark for the Octagon is reignited, returning to fight camp[4]. Pereira views the rematch as a chance to redeem himself, having succumbed to Ankalaev in their first encounter. Pereira's approach involves meticulously refining his techniques, rather than drastically altering his game plan[1]. In essence, Pereira is gearing up for the rematch, using precision and pinpoint strategy to take on Ankalaev again[1][4].
Bookmakers are listing Alex Pereira as the favorite for the upcoming mixed-martial-arts rematch against Magomed Ankalaev, taking into account Pereira's history of five victories, including three title defenses, before their first bout. Pereira, despite losing to Ankalaev, is optimistic about the rematch and plans to make minor tweaks to his strategy, rather than drastically altering his game plan.
