Ankalaev Warns PereiraS Aggression Could Lead to Early UFC 320 Finish
Magomed Ankalaev believes Alex Pereira‘s tendency toward aggressive exchanges will be his downfall in their UFC 320 rematch. Ankalaev, who fought Pereira to a hard-fought decision at UFC 313 in March, predicts a swift and decisive victory this time around, warning that “Poatan‘s” eagerness to engage could result in a knockout loss.
The upcoming light heavyweight bout carries notable implications for the division’s title picture. Ankalaev previously held the interim light heavyweight championship and aims to reclaim a title shot with a dominant performance. Pereira, a former middleweight champion, is looking to establish himself as a force at 205 pounds, but Ankalaev contends that Pereira’s style is ill-suited for a prolonged contest against a calculated striker like himself.
“This fight will be fully different,” Ankalaev stated during the UFC 320 Countdown episode. “This second fight, it’s not a chance for him to win. it’s a chance for me to finish him early. To dominate Alex Pereira.”
Their first encounter at UFC 313 saw Ankalaev utilize a measured approach, successfully landing strikes and even rocking Pereira on multiple occasions. Despite controlling much of the fight, Ankalaev was unable to secure a finish, with the bout ultimately going the distance. He now believes he has identified vulnerabilities in Pereira’s game and is prepared to exploit them at UFC 320 on June 8th.
