Latest news with #Ankalaev
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Jiri Prochazka: People will stop taking 'big mouth guy' Magomed Ankalaev seriously
Jiri Prochazka: People will stop taking 'big mouth guy' Magomed Ankalaev seriously Jiri Prochazka thinks UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev is talking too much. Since dethroning Alex Pereira to become champion at UFC 313, Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) has been active on social media, going after both "Poatan" and Jiri Prochazka for turning down a title fight against him at UFC 317. Prochazka (31-5-1 MMA, 5-2 UFC) has opted to prioritize his studies, which Ankalaev mocked him for. "Alex Pereira don't want the Ank anymore. Let's leave him alone because I'm not a bully: Fake ninja he said he have to go back to school because he cannot read @danawhite @Mickmaynard2 give me some fish." The former UFC light heavyweight champion has no regrets putting university over the title fight. "I'm studying university for right now – three years. Everything is settled – this magister, everything is settled. Everything is good," Prochazka said in an interview with Full Violence. "I'm after the (Ankalaev) fight, it's a little bit of time. So right now, I'm focused for this target. My life is just about targets. What is most important right now, the priorit?. Right now, that's school." Prochazka isn't amused with Ankalaev's verbal jabs, and thinks he's shooting himself in the foot with his approach. "He's a big mouth guy," Prochazka said of Ankalaev. "I really don't care (if it's him or his manager), because he did enough to stop people from taking him seriously. This is not how the champ has to speak. He will put himself down just by this nonsense talking." Still unsure if Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) will get his title-fight rematch with Ankalaev, Prochazka is just looking to compete within the next couple of months – but his eyes remain on the prize. "August, October, something like that," Prochazka said of his return. "My manager is trying to keep negotiating this fight with Ankalaev. Let's see if Pereira will fight with him. I will fight him or with somebody else, but I'm focused on Ankalaev after that."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
UFC's Jamahal Hill: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira rematch 'really up in the air'
After a spot-on prediction for the first fight between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira, Jamahal Hill has given his take on the potential rematch. Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) dethroned Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) to claim the light heavyweight title at UFC 313, and the pair are expected to run things back later in the year. Not only did Hill predict an Ankalaev win at UFC 313, but he detailed how Ankalaev's striking would be slept on in the matchup. Advertisement Having lost to Pereira by knockout at UFC 300, many accused Hill (12-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) of being a salty competitor. However, Hill's prediction proved to be accurate, with Ankalaev outstriking and even stumbling Pereira on the feet. "I will say people were thinking I was hating, which is crazy," Hill told MMA Junkie. "I just try to be real and authentic and say things the way that I see them and speak on how I feel. I guess realness rubs people the wrong way sometimes, I guess? So, it is what it is. I think there's adjustments that can be made by Alex that aren't huge adjustments. "He could change that fight and turn that fight around, but at the same time, there are also adjustments that Ankalaev can make that can make him win more convincingly and more dominantly. So, I think it's really, really up in the air. It's like who pinpoints these things and who makes those adjustments. That's what it's going to come down to ultimately." Many fighters such as Michael Chiesa, Anthony Smith, Dustin Poirier, and most recently Stephen Thompson have served as analysts on the ESPN desk. With Hill providing extensive and well thought out breakdowns on his YouTube channel, he also hopes to make the transition some day. Advertisement "It's a job, and it's a job that pays and something that I enjoy doing," Hill said. "I got my YouTube channel where I do breakdowns. I haven't done any recently because I've been busy with my own thing to get ready and locked in for the fight. "I've been in camp. I've been wanting to spend time with family and things like that. But yeah, it's definitely something that I'd like to do. Just being able to talk about fights, break down dialogue about it, just throw out different theories and ideas of how I see it, seeing somebody else's way of how they might see it. I love that." Former champion Hill will look to re-enter the title picture when he meets Khalil Rountree in Saturday's UFC on ABC 8 (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+) main event at Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Jamahal Hill predicts Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira rematch
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC's Jamahal Hill: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira rematch 'really up in the air'
UFC's Jamahal Hill: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira rematch 'really up in the air' After a spot-on prediction for the first fight between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira, Jamahal Hill has given his take on the potential rematch. Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) dethroned Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) to claim the light heavyweight title at UFC 313, and the pair are expected to run things back later in the year. Not only did Hill predict an Ankalaev win at UFC 313, but he detailed how Ankalaev's striking would be slept on in the matchup. Having lost to Pereira by knockout at UFC 300, many accused Hill (12-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) of being a salty competitor. However, Hill's prediction proved to be accurate, with Ankalaev outstriking and even stumbling Pereira on the feet. "I will say people were thinking I was hating, which is crazy," Hill told MMA Junkie. "I just try to be real and authentic and say things the way that I see them and speak on how I feel. I guess realness rubs people the wrong way sometimes, I guess? So, it is what it is. I think there's adjustments that can be made by Alex that aren't huge adjustments. "He could change that fight and turn that fight around, but at the same time, there are also adjustments that Ankalaev can make that can make him win more convincingly and more dominantly. So, I think it's really, really up in the air. It's like who pinpoints these things and who makes those adjustments. That's what it's going to come down to ultimately." Many fighters such as Michael Chiesa, Anthony Smith, Dustin Poirier, and most recently Stephen Thompson have served as analysts on the ESPN desk. With Hill providing extensive and well thought out breakdowns on his YouTube channel, he also hopes to make the transition some day. "It's a job, and it's a job that pays and something that I enjoy doing," Hill said. "I got my YouTube channel where I do breakdowns. I haven't done any recently because I've been busy with my own thing to get ready and locked in for the fight. "I've been in camp. I've been wanting to spend time with family and things like that. But yeah, it's definitely something that I'd like to do. Just being able to talk about fights, break down dialogue about it, just throw out different theories and ideas of how I see it, seeing somebody else's way of how they might see it. I love that." Former champion Hill will look to re-enter the title picture when he meets Khalil Rountree in Saturday's UFC on ABC 8 (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+) main event at Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan.
USA Today
09-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Alex Pereira: Magomed Ankalaev says my name 'because nobody knows he's the champion'
Alex Pereira: Magomed Ankalaev says my name 'because nobody knows he's the champion' Alex Pereira is unfazed by UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev constantly poking at him. Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) dethroned Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) to claim the light heavyweight belt at UFC 313 in March. Ankalaev is expecting his first title defense to be an immediate rematch against "Poatan," but has grown impatient of waiting. Pereira fought four times in the past calendar year, but has opted to take some time off after his title loss. Ankalaev threatened to move on by claiming that Pereira was "done," but the Brazilian is not biting on his taunts. "It's hard for anyone to do that, a sequence of fights in a year – four fights," Pereira told UFC Brasil in a translated interview. "I think the crowd misses it. He's also promoting a little if he says my name because nobody knows he's the champion, right? So when he says my name he appears a little, but I'm not responding to his provocations because I know it's just to promote. When the time is right, I'll go. I'll talk." Pereira says he's targeting a return in the final quarter of the year. "That's my focus. that's what I want the most and it's going to happen," Pereira said on getting his belt back. "We haven't talked about it yet, but we know that it's around October. It could be September, October, November. That date is perfect for me." Pereira was asked what he would need to do differently to ensure that he beats Ankalaev in the rematch. He lost their first fight by unanimous decision in which he stuffed all 12 of Ankalaev's takedowns, but was ultimately outstruck. "Some things (will be) different, but I'm telling you that these are details," Pereira said. "It's not something that I will have to retrain and change my game. No, it's the same thing – just correcting some techniques."
Daily Mirror
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Alex Pereira breaks silence on 'retirement' jibe with nine-word message
The former light-heavyweight champion is hoping to return to action later this year despite Magomed Ankalaev's claims that the Brazilian is 'retired' Alex Pereira has clapped back at Magomed Ankalaev, expressing his desire to make a comeback to the octagon later this year. The Brazilian was on the receiving end of a surprise loss to Ankalaev at UFC 313 earlier this year. The build-up to their light-heavyweight bout was marred by a war of words, with tensions running high and nearly boiling over before they even stepped into the cage. Since clinching the 205lb title, Ankalaev is desperate to stay active inside the cage and has continued to carry on his rivalry with 'Poatan'. The Russian accused the Pereira camp of stalling negotiations and believes that the former light-heavyweight king is 'retired.' Despite the post-UFC 313 drama, Pereira is keen to even the score and win back the gold strap. In a recent interview with UFC Brazil, the 37-year-old set the record straight regarding the status of his second bout with Ankalaev. "We'll definitely be talking about my next fight soon," he said. "I don't have a specific date yet, but we already have an idea. I took this time off to rest, because I worked hard in 2024. I think my body got tired, I had some injuries, so I decided to take it easy, more on the recovery side, and now I'm coming back. To come back [the right way]: firm and strong, to go after my belt again." Ankalaev recently stated that he had agreed to fight Pereira in June, July and August, following reports that both fighters had consented to a rematch. Despite his insistence that the Brazilian is 'done,' it appears likely that the Russian's first title defence will be an immediate sequel against the knockout artist. The Russian's remarks came just weeks after the Brazilian fan-favourite claimed he was 'hacked' on X, following a post suggesting he had threatened UFC CEO Dana White with retirement. "I don't even know what's going on. I have a great relationship with the UFC," said Pereira. Daniel Cormier, who shares a good relationship with 'Poatan', didn't buy his response. "Pereira is a liar," Cormier declared. "Pereira did not get hacked yesterday. "Pereira might have tweeted something and then somebody called him and was like, 'Yo, calm down. Let's chill.' I don't believe the hack thing, mate. It's too convenient. It was very unusual. It was too specific. He didn't use profanity. It kind of sounded like Pereira." Pereira had posted: "I always answered the UFC's calls. But if they want to play with me, we can do that. I've never spoken poorly of the UFC but with what I've just heard I'm disheartened. I've already had thoughts of not fighting anymore, and after what was just relayed to me this may be the start." 'Poatan,' however, is now back in training and appears to be preparing for his return to the cage. The rematch was initially suggested to take place at UFC 318 in Chicago, before the announcement of the Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev headliner by the promotion. Now, the earliest possible date for this fight could be September at UFC 319.
