Not everyone in the fight game has the guts to challenge Jon Jones. The UFC loyalty has a record that will not be topped for a long time and his era of dominance is second to none. However, Magomed Ankalaev seems confident in going up against ‘Bones’ at heavyweight and has predicted victory for himself.

‘Russian Terror’ recently expressed his readiness to step in and replace Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 if the former champ were to withdraw. The Russian’s confidence was echoed by UFC legend and MMA analyst Chael Sonnen as he praised the Dagestani’s fighting prowess. Additionally, the #2 ranked light heavyweight contender also implied that he would be a difficult match for division king Alex Pereira.

On the same note, Ankalaev responded to Sonnen on X and cemented his claim. He posted on X saying, “@ChaelSonnen you are right! I am the best striker in the light heavyweight division. If Jon Jones’s opponent got injured. I will fight him also and I will beat him.”

‘Russian Terror’ has gone on a 12-fight unbeaten run over the last few years. However, even after such a stellar record, his declaration of being the best striker was laughed off by Jon Jones. He tweeted a laughing emoji in reply to a statement that the Russian native made in the post.

Ankalaev has faced skepticism not only from the current heavyweight champion but also from the light heavyweight king Alex Pereira. ‘Poatan’ criticized the Dagestani’s fighting style days before UFC 307 suggesting that his lack of entertainment value contributed to Khalil Rountree Jr. receiving a title shot ahead of him. The Gorets team member didn’t remain silent after the jibe and decided to reply to the Brazilian statement through X.

He wrote, “Alex has 6 KOs in UFC and I have 6 KOs. He knows why he’s not fighting me and fighting the number eight guy. Let’s be real. Focus on your fight. I will do the same. We will see if you will accept good luck, champ.”

Now many people are under the impression that Pereira might be avoiding the Dagestani because the latter has a strong wrestling game. However, Ali Abdelaziz clarified that Ankalev might get a title shot if he manages to defeat Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 308.

Breaking down the Magomed Ankalaev, Alex Pereira, and Aleksander Rakic situation

Mago͏med Ankalaev recen͏t͏ly leveled accusations against Per͏eira of using ‘voodoo’ and other ‘shamanic’ tricks to gain unfair advantage in his fights. These remarks likely stem from the Russian’s frustration for being overlooked by the UFC’s top brass for a shot at the title. However, Ankalaev is not backing down and is determined to get the shot, especially after Pereira assessed him. 

In an interview with ESPN, Pereira rated fighters from 1 to 10, with 1 being the easiest and 10 the toughest. Surprisingly, ‘Poatan’ rated Ankalaev a 5 out of 10. This irked the Dagestani and he wrote on X. “This guy says I’m at level five; I’m in this guy’s head… I promise you this voodoo stuff will not work with me. I pray five times a day and I am protected.” 

Eventually, Pereira did win his UFC 307 encounter ‘voodoo or no voodoo’ and Ankalaev decided to talk about it. He posted on Instagram and said, “Congratulations, both guys. It was a great fight. I’m glad [voodoo] guy won, and now I have to do my job, beat Rakic, and after that, kill the [spell].” 

Ankalaev is currently focused on defeating Alexander Rakic at UFC 308, a victory that could potentially lead to a title shot. Meanwhile, Pereira may be seeking a brief break from competition, as he hinted to UFC CEO Dana White. He said, “I think I deserve some rest after this. I’m not going to say anything about my team and their condition. So now, I think I want to rest my body. I’ve got some trips to go on, and then I’m going on a trip to Bali just to relax. Let’s see what’s next.”

Pereira’s recent health struggles can be attributed to the physical toll of training for UFC 307. Given these challenges, it remains uncertain whether Ankalaev will have his wish granted even if he wins his upcoming bout in Abu Dhabi. So will Ankalaev win and get a chance against Pereira? Let us know your ideas in the comments below.