Magomed Ankalaev faces Aleksandar Rakic simply three weeks after Alex Pereira defends his UFC gentle heavyweight title towards Khalil Rountree at UFC 307, and he isn’t pleased to see Pereira declare he turned down a shot at gold.
Pereira just lately posted a video on his YouTube channel claiming that he anticipated to face Ankalaev subsequent, however the Russian “didn’t need to struggle me.” It didn’t take lengthy for Ankalaev to take to social media to refute the claims and say he was by no means supplied the chance.
“@AlexPereiraUFC you’re a liar. You stated I turned hearth down towards you @DanaWhite, @MickMaynard2 by no means provide me a struggle towards you. I’m gonna make you eat your phrase after I deal with my enterprise.”
Pereira vs. Rountree headlines UFC 307 on Oct. 5 in Salt Lake Metropolis, whereas Ankalaev attracts Rakic on Oct. 26 at UFC 208 in Abu Dhabi.
In his video, Pereira claimed he “all the time wished to struggle towards Ankalaev” after defending his 205-pound belt with a knockout over Jiri Prochazka at UFC 300, nonetheless the one-time title challenger “has made issues tough.”
“I don’t know the rationale, if it was the placement, if he didn’t need to struggle,” Pereira stated of Ankalaev. “He isn’t the champion, he can’t choose something. It’s the chance that reveals up and he didn’t need it. He has his reasoning, I don’t know what it’s. However I got here right here to let you know I’m not terrified of anybody. Everybody is aware of my historical past and the whole lot I’ve carried out, not solely in MMA, however in kickboxing as properly. It’s apparent that I need to struggle this man.”
