Ali Abdelaziz, the renowned sports manager in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA), firmly believes that Magomed Ankalaev is the one who will dethrone UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Alex Pereira.
Alex Pereira, who started his career as a famous kickboxer, successfully transitioned his skills into MMA, achieving great success and becoming the UFC Middleweight Champion after defeating his rival, Israel Adesanya, in 2022.
After losing the title in a rematch against Adesanya, Pereira moved to the light heavyweight division, continuing his rise with five consecutive victories, including three title defenses. In UFC 307, he shined with a stunning victory over Khalil Rountree.
However, Ali Abdelaziz believes that Magomed Ankalaev, the Russian fighter from Dagestan, has all the necessary tools to dethrone the Light Heavyweight Champion. Ankalaev, who is set to face Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308, displays great versatility in various aspects of the game, making Abdelaziz confident that Ankalaev can defeat Pereira.
Abdelaziz stated: “Ankalaev has the intelligence and skills to outsmart Pereira. Although Pereira’s chin might be somewhat strong in the light heavyweight division, he has endured many tough battles, which may have weakened his defenses.”
Abdelaziz believes Ankalaev is superior in all areas, whether in wrestling or grappling, and he’s confident that Ankalaev won’t get hit hard by Pereira. If Ankalaev wins at UFC 308, he will earn a title shot against Pereira, giving the champion the chance to prove Abdelaziz wrong.
