Before Saturday's UFC 307 main event between UFC light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira and Khalil Rountree got booked, it was assumed that No.1 contender Magomed Ankalaev would challenge for the title. Out of nowhere, Rountree leapfrogged Ankalaev and finds himself in the biggest fight of his career in Salt Lake City on ESPN.
Many were not angry at this main event because of how explosive and powerful Rountree and Pereira are, but it was a little surprising to see it get booked, especially after Rountree is coming off a six-month suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. With a fight to train for and focus on later this month, Ankalaev is still sending insults at Pereira for passing him up. UFC champion Alex Pereira leaked incredible footage of 'best' sparring he's ever had.
Magomed Ankalaev Calls Pereira Scared Ankalaev has quietly built an incredible resume in the UFC’s light-heavyweight division since he debuted in the world’s biggest MMA promotion back in 2018. Although he lost his first UFC fight, the Dagestani fighter has remained unbeaten for over six years. Like Pereira, his style is talking with his hands on fight night and not with eccentric press conference appearances.
But unfortunately for Ankalaev, he hasn’t become the star that his Brazilian counterpart has. Periera’s weakest part of his game is obviously his grappling. Though he holds a black belt rank in jiu jitsu, he has been taken down and held down by subpar grapplers.