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

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UFC News: Magomed Ankalaev’s Manager Makes Bold Statement About Striking with Alex Pereira

Magomed Ankalaev vows to stand and trade with Pereira, while throwing shade at ex-middleweight champ Israel Adesanya!

The MMA world has always had its share of bold claims and confident declarations, but this one might take the cake. Magomed Ankalaev, the pressure fighter from Dagestan, has been steadily climbing the light heavyweight rankings. He has never been known for mincing his words, especially when it comes to talking about Alex Pereira.

His latest statement, delivered through his manager Ali Abdelaziz, has raised more than a few eyebrows in the MMA community. Ankalaev has been patiently waiting for his shot at the light heavyweight crown, and after a string of wins, he is finally within striking distance of champion Alex Pereira.

Also Read: Umar Nurmagomedov Sends Warning To Merab Ahead Of UFC 311

What Did Ali Abdelaziz Say About Magomed Ankalaev’s Comments On Israel Adesanya And Alex Pereira?

Alex Pereira is arguably one of the most decorated strikers in UFC history, with a kickboxing record that would make most fighters consider a career change. We’re talking about a man who finished Israel Adesanya – once in kickboxing and once in MMA – something that seemed almost impossible given Adesanya’s own striking credentials.

Now, here’s where things get interesting and perhaps a tad ambitious. Through his manager, Magomed Ankalaev declared that not only does he plan to stand and trade with Pereira, but he also took a swipe at former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya.

“Ankalaev, what he told me, he said, ‘I’m not wrestling with [Pereira]. I’m gonna show everybody. Izzy can’t even wash my boots in striking. I’m gonna knock Alex Pereira out. Get the respect I’ve deserved for a long time.’ It’s a long task to strike with [Pereira] and knock him out. But I believe Ankalaev can do it,” said Abdelaziz via MMA Junkie.

While most fighters would be planning to wrestle with Pereira (a perfectly sensible strategy given the champion’s relatively newer relationship with grappling), Ankalaev wants to beat the knockout artist at his own game. Conventional wisdom says this is a bad idea, but if the fighter believes it, there is nothing anyone can do about it.

Magomed Ankalaev’s confidence is admirable, though some might call it borderline crazy. His manager, Abdelaziz, doubled down on the bold talk. At this point, fans have got to wonder if there’s something in the water at their gym or if they truly believe they have figured out the puzzle that is Alex Pereira’s striking game.

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

Alex Pereira

Israel Adesanya

Magomed Ankalaev

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!