Jamahal Hill thinks Alex Pereira needs to focus on one particular thing if he wants to reclaim UFC gold.
Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) lost the light heavyweight title to Magomed Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) by unanimous decision in the UFC 313 main event earlier this month at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Although Pereira surprised many with his ability to stop all 12 of Ankalaev’s takedown attempts, he wound up getting outstruck on the feet. The pair are expected to have an immediate rematch after UFC CEO Dana White approved of the idea after the fight.
Hill, who predicted an Ankalaev win at UFC 313, thinks “Poatan” can’t be nearly as tentative with his offence if he wants to avenge his loss.
“I think he can, I think he’s very capable of making the adjustments that he needs to make to win that fight,” Hill told Home of Fight on Pereira. “He’s going to have to be locked into the gym to where he don’t get tired, he’s going to have to up his cardio a lot because his output is going to have to go up. His output with the kicks, adding more kicks and working a lot more of having a higher volume with kicks in this fight would get it done. But, we’ll see.”
It appears wheels are already in motion for a rematch, with Ankalaev already claiming that a date has been offered.
“I have a date and I accepted already, I hope my opponent will accept too. This time there will be no 5 rounds, I don’t get paid by the hour #BigANK.”
I have a date and I accepted already, I hope my opponent will accept too. This time there will be no 5 rounds, I don’t get paid by the hour #BigANK
— Muhammad big ANK Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM) March 20, 2025
