Ankalayev's potential retaliation discussed by Jamaal Hill: "Seems like the truth can sometimes provoke annoyance"
Catch the scrap! Jamal Hill, ex-UFC light heavyweight champion, has got a bone to pick about the Ankalaev-Pereira rematch. After the Russian walked away with the title in their initial clash, Hill thinks Pereira can reclaim it if he cranks up the ol' brain gears. Hill mentioned to MMA Junkie, "People laughed off my predictions, said I was a hater. But I just call 'em as I see 'em."
Hill further added, "Pereira could make changes to swing the rematch in his favor, or Ankalaev could modify his game plan to win with a wider margin. It all boils down to who puts in the hard work."
Word on the street is, Hill is gearing up for a headlining match at UFC on ABC 8 in Baku, hoping to regain the title he once held. The event's set for June 21.
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These insights jibe with discussions around the rematch, which is expected later this year. Despite Pereira's tumbles in the initial bout, folks like Israel Adesanya have faith in Pereira's comeback victory. They acknowledge the fight's beastliness, but back Pereira's potential to "win that motherlander."
Meanwhile, Ankalaev's spilled the tea that the UFC was chatting with Pereira about a surprise rematch, but Pereira apparently declined, pointing to some messy time-table wrangling around the bout's date[3].
So there you have it! Jamal Hill believes Pereira's smart adjustments to his game play could give him a shot at the rematch win against Ankalaev. Sounds like a challenging, but winnable fight for the ex-champ.
Bookmakers might consider Pereira as a potential underdog in the upcoming rematch against Ankalaex due to his strategies hinted by Jamal Hill, such as enhancing his clinch defense, building up his cardio, and adopting a more aggressive offense. The sports community, meanwhile, is intrigued by the prospect of Pereira reclaiming his title after their first bout, with some prominent figures like Israel Adesanya betting on a Pereira win.
