UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev has taken aim at Alex Pereira’s preparation for their upcoming rematch, suggesting the Brazilian may be focusing on the wrong areas.
The two fighters will headline UFC 320 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on October 4, in a sequel to their clash at UFC 313 in March. Ankalaev claimed the title after defeating Pereira via unanimous decision, with the victory largely shaped by his striking rather than grappling.
Recent social media footage has shown Pereira defending multiple takedown attempts from training partners, a focus that Ankalaev has openly questioned. Posting on X, the Russian wrote: “This guy bring Punch Taxi driver to help him with Wrestling. You don’t need to worry about Wrestling, I’m gonna find this big head again.”
Fans have echoed Ankalaev’s skepticism, pointing out that Pereira successfully defended takedowns in their first encounter and that striking was the decisive factor. Comments online highlighted the apparent mismatch between Pereira’s current training emphasis and the lessons from UFC 313:
- “Why tho? Alex literally defended every takedown against him.”
- “Bro needs to work on his striking and getting off the cage.”
- “All this just to sit back & wait to defend the takedowns that never come, again?”
With the rematch on the horizon, Ankalaev’s remarks and Pereira’s unconventional training approach have already sparked discussion among fans, raising questions about which fighter will make the smarter adjustments for UFC 320.
