Magomed Ankalaev’s Ultimatum to UFC Rival Alex Pereira

Magomed Ankalaev has issued an ultimatum to his MMA rival Alex Pereira.

The UFC light heavyweight championship changed hands earlier this year when Pereira, then the champ, surrendered the belt to Ankalaev after the Russian dominated the scorecards with his striking-grappling, and his Octagon IQ. Pereira had previously ascended as quick to the top of the 205-pound division as he had at 185, with wins over Jiri Prochazka (twice), Jamahal Hill, and Khalil Rountree, following his victories over Sean Strickland and Israel Adesanya at middleweight.

The first defense of Ankalaev’s reign always appeared to be one in which Pereira would be called upon. Not least because of his work in UFC title fights before, but also because UFC matchmakers are bereft of enough superstar firepower to populate signature events of the year, like International Fight Week, at the end of June.

Ankalaev, though, has threatened to move on from that date unless something changes.

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Magomed Ankalaev’s Ultimatum to Alex Pereira

Ankalaev says time is of the issue when it comes to booking a fight for next month

“I was offered to fight Alex [on] International Fight Week,” said Ankalaev to his 37,500 followers on X, formerly Twitter, on the 11th of May.

Unbeaten since a loss on his UFC debut against Paul Craig in 2018, Ankalaev has put together an impressive run at light heavyweight, beating Volkan Oezdemir, Thiago Santos, Anthony Smith, Johnny Walker, Aleksandar Rakic, and Pereira, among others. A rematch was believed to be in the works, but Ankalaev has implied Pereira doesn’t want to fight.

“If the man don’t want it, let’s move on. I’m ready for everyone.”

“I dare you,” he finished.

Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira’s professional MMA records (as of 11/05/25)
	Magomed Ankalaev	Alex Pereira
Fights	23	15
Wins	20	12
Losses	1	3
Draws	1	0
No Contests	1	0

Seven fights have already been announced for the 28th of June at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with a UFC flyweight championship bout between Alexandre Pantoja against Kai Kara-France, a middleweight match between Paulo Costa and Roman Kopylov, and a women’s flyweight bout involving Tracy Cortez and Viviane Araujo, among others.

UFC 317, despite the above, is yet to have a main event. A fight between Islam Makhachev and Jack Della Maddalena could land on the card, but Ankalaev against Pereira would be a fitting headliner, too.