Magomed Ankalaev is eager to settle the score with Alex Pereira.
Ankalaev (21-2-1 MMA, 12-2-1 UFC) put an end to Pereira’s light heavyweight title reign when he defeated him by unanimous decision at UFC 313. However, “Poatan” was able to exact his revenge by finishing Ankalaev by Round 1 TKO in their rematch at UFC 320.
Pereira (13-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) has since moved up to heavyweight, but that doesn’t mean he’s not still on Ankalaev’s radar. Ankalaev told MMA Junkie he was not 100 percent when he ran things back with Pereira.
“I will be chasing that fight,” Ankalaev told Red Corner MMA in a translated interview, “no matter if it takes place at heavyweight or light heavyweight. Although he moved up, so I’m not just focusing on him as I have some business to finish in the light heavyweight division.
“But at the end of the day, as long as he’s not retired, I’m sure the UFC would be interested. We are 1-1. I won the first fight, and it’s fair to say it was domination. I lost the second one, but it was just an accident. So, I think the third fight should be very exciting for the fans. Time will tell.”
Ankalaev will look to rebound from his title loss to Pereira when he takes on Bogdan Guskov (18-3-1 MMA, 4-1-1 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 282 (Paramount+) main event at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Magomed Ankalaev chasing Alex Pereira trilogy after losing rematch by ‘accident’
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