Accusations Fly After Title Bout Fallout
Since losing the light heavyweight belt at UFC 313, Alex Pereira has stayed off the radar while Magomed Ankalaev took a more aggressive route—publicly accusing him of ducking rematch offers. The Russian champion claimed Pereira turned down fights scheduled for June, July, and August, suggesting the Brazilian might even be done with fighting altogether.
Pereira Fires Back: “Nobody Knows He’s Champion”
In a composed but cutting response via UFC Brasil, Pereira dismissed Ankalaev’s tactics as self-promotion. “He says my name because no one knows he’s the champion,” Pereira stated, calling out the Russian’s attempts to stay relevant through provocation. Rather than engage in an online war, Pereira said he’s focused on timing and preparation, not noise.
Social Media Drama Sparks Retirement Speculation
Adding fuel to the fire, Pereira recently posted—and later deleted—a message saying he was “disheartened” and considering stepping away from the sport. He later claimed his account was hacked. Meanwhile, Ankalaev insisted UFC 317 was offered as a rematch stage but rejected by Pereira.
Ankalaev’s Camp Growing Frustrated
UFC middleweight champ Dricus Du Plessis and Khabib’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, have both voiced support for Ankalaev, who’s eager to avoid the same long layoff fate as Michael Chandler. “We said yes to June, August, and October. He keeps pushing,” Abdelaziz confirmed.
Pereira Reveals Tentative Return Window
Now, Pereira has finally spoken on timing: “We haven’t talked about it yet but we know it’s around October. It could be September, October, November.” After a grueling year filled with tough opponents and back-to-back camps, Pereira emphasized the importance of rest before returning to top form.
Will the Rematch Happen in Fall 2025?
With the UFC’s pay-per-view schedule locked through August and no event in September, October looks like the earliest opportunity for Pereira vs. Ankalaev 2. All eyes are now on Dana White to make it official—and on Pereira to prove he’s not avoiding anyone, just biding his time.