At UFC 313, Magomed Ankalaev has a second chance to claim the belt that slipped through his fingers after a controversial draw against Jan Blachowicz at UFC 282. But this fight isn’t just about redemption, it’s now become tangled in controversy. Alex Pereira has thrown a curveball, accusing Ankalaev of using Ramadan as a built-in excuse for a potential loss.
With the biggest fight of his career just days away, Ankalaev must strike a delicate balance, honoring his faith while ensuring he’s physically prepared to go five hard rounds. But what does he have to say about Pereira’s accusations? And is there any truth to them?
Magomed Ankalaev breaks his silence on Alex Pereira’s claims about him using Ramadan as an “excuse”
In a recent interview with ‘Ag Fight’, Alex Pereira stated that while he doesn’t want to disrespect anyone’s religious beliefs, he believes Magomed Ankalaev may be using Ramadan to deflect whatever happens at UFC 313.
‘Poatan’ claimed, “But today I went to get my lunch boxes, the UFC lunch boxes, and there were two bags with several lunch boxes with his name on it and all by appointment. He’s not doing that (fasting). He’s deceiving people and talking to have an excuse later.”
It didn’t take long for Ankalaev to fire back. Speaking at the UFC 313 media day through an interpreter, the challenger dismissed Pereira’s claims as baseless distractions.
Why? According to him, “Yeah, I mean, he’s obviously really worried about me and what I’m doing. And he seems to be nervous so he’s following all these things and I mean, what can I say?”
The Russian fighter didn’t deny breaking his fast but it made it clear that it wasn’t a decision he made lightly. And that it wasn’t about an “excuse” but rather, showing up on fight night in perfect conditions.
Ankalaev revealed, “I’ll tell you again, I had to break the fast a couple of times because there’s something I need to do in order to make the weight and in order to be prepared.”
For a fighter cutting down to 205 pounds, hydration is crucial, and Ankalaev knew he couldn’t risk his health. Still, he couldn’t resist throwing a lighthearted jab at his opponent by stating, “I mean, even if he goes to a fridge right now and he opens the food and he’ll see that there’s food with my name on it. The UFC food that was given to me, if he wants he can take it. “
Breaking his fast isn’t ideal, but neither is entering a title fight completely dehydrated. For Ankalaev, it’s about finding the balance between faith and function. And despite Pereira’s claims, there’s no doubt about his commitment.
In fact, he is so confident in his preparation that he’s already got an offer for ‘Poatan’ if he manages to rip the belt away from the champion!
Ankalaev isn’t scared of offering ‘Poatan’ an immediate rematch after UFC 313
Magomed Ankalaev isn’t just aiming to take away Alex Pereira’s light heavyweight crown, he’s already deciding what’s next.
Speaking to the press after the open workout sessions in Las Vegas ahead of UFC 313, he made it clear, he holds all the cards if he wins the belt. He won’t run from a rematch if Pereira demands one, but the decision will rest solely in his hands.
According to the challenger, “When it comes to me, I’ve never said no to rematches. There’s two already I think in my career that somebody said that they deserve a rematch right away and I gave them that chance.”
His remarks may have been a reference to his past run-ins with Ion Cutelaba and Johnny Walker. Both times, he gave his opponents a second chance. Would he do the same for Pereira?
With supreme confidence, Ankalaev stated, “So if it comes to me and I’m the one who decides whether he gets an opportunity for a rematch right away, of course, I’ll say yes.”
To wrap things up, as UFC 313 approaches, the tension between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira has reached a fever pitch. What started as a high-stakes title fight has seemingly transformed into a battle of narratives. One centered around faith, preparation, and perceived mind games. Pereira’s accusations may have cast a shadow over Ankalaev’s Ramadan observance, but the Russian remains unfazed and confident in his preparation.
Will Ankalaev prove that faith and fighting can coexist, or will Pereira silence the doubters with another dominant performance? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
The post Forced to Break Ramadan Obligations, Magomed Ankalaev Reveals the Truth Behind Alex Pereira’s Dirty Allegations Before UFC 313 appeared first on EssentiallySports.
