Dec 10, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Magomed Ankalaev (blue gloves) reacts after the fight against Jan Blachowicz (red gloves) during UFC 282 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

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‘I Hope You Ready’ – Magomed Ankalaev Sends Chilling Message To Alex Pereira Ahead Of UFC 313

Magomed Ankalaev changes tactics weeks ahead of highly anticipated fight against light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira !

The UFC light heavyweight division has seen its fair share of legendary matchups over the years. From the era of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz to Jon Jones’ dominant reign, the 205-pound weight class has consistently produced some of the most memorable moments in UFC history.

The division once again finds itself in the spotlight as we approach UFC 313, where current champion Alex Pereira is set to defend his title against the formidable Magomed Ankalaev on March 8 in Las Vegas. The build-up to this fight has been loud from the Russian contender’s side and his warning to ‘Poatan’ is something that has fans concerned for the Brazilian.

Also Read: Dana White Gives His Take On The Future Of Patricio ‘Pitbull’ In The UFC

Alex Pereira’s Video

Alex Pereira, known to fans as “Poatan,” has been quite active on social media during his training camp. The Brazilian knockout artist recently shared a video of himself training in the snow with his longtime coach and former UFC champion Glover Teixeira. The clip shows the pair working on wrestling techniques, clearly addressing what many consider to be Pereira’s potential weakness against the grappling-heavy approach of Ankalaev.

❄️ Alex Pereira and Glover Teixeira training in the snow ahead of the Magomed Ankalaev fight 😭

🎥 @AlexPereiraUFC #UFC313 pic.twitter.com/8VSoerWCfo
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) February 23, 2025

It’s no secret that Pereira’s path to UFC gold has been built on his devastating striking power, especially that left hook. He carried this over from his championship days in Glory Kickboxing. Since joining the UFC, he has amassed an impressive 10-fight run, capturing both the middleweight and light heavyweight titles along the way.

Magomed Ankalaev’s Response

Ankalaev has established himself as one of the division’s premier grapplers. He potentially poses the most difficult stylistic challenge Pereira has faced since joining the UFC ranks. In response to Pereira’s snowy training session, Magomed Ankalaev took to social media with a chilling six-word message:

“I hope you ready to do this for 25 min.”

I hope you ready to do this for 25 min
— Magomed Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM) February 24, 2025

The simplicity of his statement carries significant weight. This suggests that the Russian plans to push a relentless pace and test Pereira’s cardio and grappling endurance across all five championship rounds.

What makes this statement particularly intriguing is Ankalaev’s previous comments about wanting to engage Pereira in a striking battle. The Dagestani fighter has shown confidence in his stand-up game, but his recent message hints that he might be reconsidering this approach.

Mixing his world-class grappling with strategic striking could be the key to dethroning the champion. After all, why play to your opponent’s strength when you have such a clear advantage elsewhere?

Magomed Ankalaev is ready for a #UFC300 title fight vs. Alex Pereira, and he promises no takedowns.

"He's not going to need (wrestling). I'm going to come out there, I'm going to stand across from him." pic.twitter.com/tupppKAMuP
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) January 14, 2024

As UFC 313 approaches, the chess match between these two elite fighters continues to develop.The champion’s training videos suggest he is taking the threat seriously, while the challenger’s ominous message indicates he’s coming with a game plan designed to exploit every potential weakness.

Whether in the snow or under the bright lights of Las Vegas, both men are preparing for what could be the toughest fight of their respective careers!

(Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – Imagn Images)

Alex Pereira

Magomed Ankalaev

UFC 313

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!