Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev 2 is already on the books. But a third meeting? “Poatan” says that’s unlikely regardless of circumstance.
Just a few weeks away from the Oct. 4 rematch at UFC 320, Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) likes his odds to redeem himself vs. Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC), but that doesn’t mean fight fans are in for a trilogy.
“I think the story will be over,” Pereira recently told MMA Junkie through a Portuguese-language interpreter via Stake. “It’s obviously out of my control. It’s up to the UFC. If they want to do it again, I’ll fight anyone. To be honest, from everything we’ve seen, I think with him losing, I don’t think he’s going to fight for the title any more.”
Ankalaev, 33, defeated Pereira, 38, in their first meeting via unanimous decision. That was in March at UFC 313 and was Ankalaev’s first title victory.
Despite the 0-1 record in head-to-head matchups, Pereira said he’s not extra eager to beat Ankalaev in their upcoming fight.
“I don’t really think about that,” Pereira said. “Even in past fights, people have said, ‘Oh, you’re going to avenge the loss that Glover had and all these things. In the end, it’s another fight and I’m looking at it with myself in mind first. I’m going in there to win and it doesn’t really matter. I’m fighting for myself in there and I want to do the best for myself.”
So what went wrong the first time? Pereira elected to keep his specific analysis to himself, but vowed to bounce back better than ever, particularly as he’s had seven months to prepare. That’s practically a lifetime for him.
“It was a lot of things combined,” Pereira said. “I’m not going to sit here and make excuses. We’re going to have the opportunity to go again and we have a whole team together to make it happen. … It’s always going to be a tough fight. There are two guys who are super well-prepared. Both want to win. Both want to take the title. I’m going to do my best and I’m going to do everything I can to be feeling extra well and super well on that night, to be able to impose my rhythm and be able to impose my game plan and be able to come out with the win.”
