The announcement that Alex Pereira will defend his light heavyweight title against Khalil Rountree at UFC 307 raised some eyebrows, as many believed Magomed Ankalaev was the rightful No. 1 contender.
Ankalaev, currently riding an impressive 12-fight unbeaten streak, was instead matched against Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 308. Despite the disappointment, Ankalaev’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, remains optimistic that a title shot is just one win away.
“Listen, I’m happy for Khalil,” Abdelaziz told MMA Fighting. “It’s funny how Magomed Ankalaev is now rooting for Alex Pereira. At the end of the day, it’s the UFC’s decision. It wasn’t my decision or Ankalaev’s. But I’ve been assured that if Ankalaev wins, he’ll get the next shot at the title.”
Abdelaziz dismissed any notions that Pereira was avoiding a fight with Ankalaev, attributing the decision to the UFC’s matchmaking. He emphasized the respect he has for Pereira, acknowledging the Brazilian as a tough opponent but also highlighting that Ankalaev presents one of the most challenging fights for the current champion.
“I don’t think Alex is ducking him,” Abdelaziz said. “It’s just the UFC’s choice. Pereira knows that Ankalaev is his hardest fight. But if we beat Rakic and Pereira beats Rountree, the two best light heavyweights in the world will fight.”
Pereira, who has expressed interest in possibly returning to middleweight or testing himself at heavyweight, put those speculations to rest during the UFC 307 media day.
He affirmed his focus on the light heavyweight division, stating his intention to defend his title. “It takes planned work to change weight classes,” Pereira explained, “but this division is perfect for me right now.”
This news was music to Ankalaev’s ears, as it reaffirmed his path to a title shot. Abdelaziz, who has had conversations with UFC officials, is confident that Ankalaev’s performance against Rakic will secure the long-awaited opportunity.
The UFC’s decision to pair Pereira with Rountree instead of Ankalaev has sparked discussions, with some speculating that Ankalaev’s fighting style may have played a role. Pereira himself suggested that Ankalaev’s perceived “boring style” might have cost him the immediate title shot.
However, Ankalaev and his team counter that narrative, pointing to his six knockouts in the UFC—matching Pereira’s knockout tally—as evidence that he is just as exciting.
“Nobody can say Ankalaev is boring,” Abdelaziz argued. “He has six knockouts, just like Pereira. He’s fought everyone, and there’s no hard feelings. We’ll just keep moving forward.”
With UFC 307 on the horizon, all eyes will be on Pereira and Rountree, but Ankalaev remains firmly in the title picture. Should he emerge victorious at UFC 308, a clash between the two top light heavyweights could be the next marquee matchup.
