UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev plans on making an even more definitive statement against Alex Pereira in their rematch.
Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) dethroned Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) by unanimous decision to claim the 205-pound title at UFC 313 in March. The pair will run things back at UFC 320 on Oct. 4 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Ankalaev has already had two rematches in the UFC against Johnny Walker and Ion Cutelaba and says history proves that the second time he fights someone, the outcome is even better.
“I think the rematch will be much easier than the first fight because statistics always show that fighting me in a rematch is very dangerous,” Ankalaev said in an interview with Ushatayka (h/t Championship Rounds). “I think we’ll prove again that it’s not a good idea to face me in a rematch. I’ll do whatever it takes to dominate. If I need to wrestle, I’ll wrestle. If I need to strike, I’ll strike. I don’t think we’ll have problems anywhere.
“If it’s possible, I won’t try to take him down because he’s expecting it. But let him prepare, that’s fine. I actually want him to come into this fight 100 percent so there are no questions about the outcome. I don’t want to hear talk like last time about him not being ready or something not being done. I want him to be in great shape so that after our fight, he has no excuses.”
Ankalaev was asked about newly crowned UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev’s potential interest in moving up to light heavyweight.
“He proved himself. He showed how powerful he is, that he can dominate a strong fighter for five rounds,” Ankalaev said of Chimaev (h/t Red Corner MMA). “It’s not an easy task. He deserved this victory (over Dricus Du Plessis). … I don’t know (on fighting Chimaev). As long as I fight in this division, and someone wants to move up to try and get my belt, welcome. No problem. If he moves up, good for him. No problem.”
