MMA superstar Alex Pereira has taken to social media and confirmed that he WILL NOT fight Magomed Ankalaev in his next UFC Light-Heavyweight Title defence. This begs the question, who will ‘Poatan’ face first in 2025?
Alex Pereira Confirms He WON’T Defend UFC Light-Heavyweight Title Against Magomed Ankalaev Next
Speculation has been rife that Alex Pereira’s next fight would most definitely be against Magomed Ankalaev. However, ‘Poatan’ himself has now revealed on social media that he will not fight the #1 light-heavyweight contender in his next 205-pound title defence.
The Russian will inevitably get a title shot in 2025 barring disaster, but Pereira doesn’t seem keen to fight the #1 contender next. Not that he is ducking him by any stretch, but the Brazilian seems adamant that Magomed Ankalaev won’t be his next fight.
It is likely we see Pereira return in the first four months of the year, but it seems UFC President Dana White will have to find an alternative opponent for the 37-year-old instead.
If we take the reigning champion at 205-pouds at his word, then it seems there will be a completely different contender standing in his way in his first title defence of 2025 in the UFC.
Who that could be remains to be seen, but Ankalaev himself still remains confident of getting his shot at Alex Pereira and the UFC Light-Heavyweight Title before the summer:
“Pereira has not yet agreed to the fight. But sooner or later it will happen, I think the fight can take place in May,” Ankalaev revealed in a recent Q&A session.
Chicken🐔🐔🐔
— Magomed Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM) December 19, 2024
Who Could ‘Poatan’ Fight Instead Of Magomed Ankalaev?
It sounds as if Alex Pereira has no intention of fight Magomed Ankalaev in his first title defence of 2025. This has created speculation as to who the #3 ranked pound-for-pound UFC fighter will face instead.
Some fans still want to see the Brazilian move up to heavyweight and with either Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall. However, that fight seems close to being agreed, with ‘Poatan’ likely to remain at light-heavyweight and defend his belt a few more times.
With Pereira all but confirmed he won’t fight Ankalaev next, taking to social media saying “It won’t be Ankalaev”, this has got fans speculating who the 37-year-old MMA phenom could face instead.
Jiri Prochazka vs Jamahal Hill goes down at UFC 311 in the co-main event, with the winner potentially in line for the next 205-pound title shot. However, Pereira has already beaten Prochazka twice and Hill once, so that seems unlikely.
The other option is to face the winner of Jan Blachowicz vs Carlos Ulberg, who fight on the UFC London main card in March. Blachowicz of course drew with Pereira on the Brazilian’s light-heavyweight debut, so there is history there and a narrative.
It remains to be seen who Alex Pereira will fight next, should it not be Magomed Ankalaev in early 2025. The Russian deserves his shot and would certainly provide ‘Poatan’ with a test.
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