Has the strong aura that defined Alex Pereira, the mighty ‘Poatan’, begun to dim? Not too long ago, the Brazilian star was a dangerous UFC fighter with a left hook that everyone feared. Ever since his UFC debut in 2021, he has become a two-division champ in a short amount of time. However, something happened when the Russian star Magomed Ankalaev stood before him. During UFC 313, Pereira had to face a new challenge against the enigmatic Dagestani wrestler who out struck him with calculated moves.

He neutralized Pereira’s prowess by controlling his timing and head movement intervals. Yet, the Brazilian champ did not back down easily. He stifled all of Ankalaev’s 12 takedown attempts and tripped the Russian at one point. However, the odds were in Ankalaev’s favor. In the end, he won the light heavyweight belt. The judges scored it 49-46, 48-47, and 48-47 for Ankalaev. It seems he is creating a legacy following greats like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev. As he is becoming the third fighter from Dagestan to win a UFC belt.

But is the story end here? Not yet. Pereira wants his belt back after a screeching halt to his championship reign.

Meanwhile, Ankalaev too, would like a rematch and said the same again on X recently. He posted a direct challenge to ‘Poatan’ and wrote, “Alex, I am ready to give you a rematch, if you really want it. Just be prepared for a storm in the next fight, storm that you never faced in this sport.”

The UFC bossman, Dana White, had indicated in a UFC 313 post-fight presser that he wanted to put the duo back into the octagon for Ankalaev’s first title defense. Speaking with AGFight after the UFC 313 clash, Magomed Ankalaev explained that he would agree to a rematch with Pereira instantly. “We will wait for the call from the UFC bosses,” he clarified. “It’s going to be a rematch? No problem.”

On the other hand, Pereira answered questions about a rematch on Uncrowned’s Ariel Helwani Show and said, “Nothing got to me yet [in regards to an official offer], but August is a good date. As soon as the contract gets in, I’m signing.” As fighters reach their mid-to-late 30s, their gas tanks often start to fluctuate—something that becomes increasingly noticeable with veteran athletes.

With only 15 MMA fights in his UFC career, Pereira is still rather young. However, Pereira has been around the combat sports block for a long time, having more than 40 fights in his professional combat sports career, way back from his kickboxing days. So, is his end near? He did mention in a social media video that he needed adjustments before the rematch, but he promised to be back. Yet, the MMA fans were concerned seeing his latest sparring video.

Alex Pereira’s recent sparring video sparked concerns

Pereira’s latest sparring clip on Instagram, which was posted by Red Corner MMA, showed the former double champion exchanging punches with a pretty undersized partner. This did not sit well with some fans, though some others were satisfied with the sharp exchanges. However, the viewers pointed out that Pereira looked exhausted and had his hands low but his chin high. Fans wrote comments like, “Alex looks slow,” and “Chin on a platter,” seeing his form and stance.

Meanwhile, Hall of Famer Chael Sonnen pointed out that the first fight was pretty one-sided and dominated by Ankalaev. “There’s nothing within that first fight—whether illness, injury, or a combination—that suggests a different result next time,” Sonnen stated during an interview with Submission Radio. Sonnen explained that despite Pereira displaying good takedown defense, the lethargic pace didn’t impress him. He added that the lack of assertive moments made it hard to believe that small adjustments would change the outcome.

However, since Pereira is adamant on returning to the Octagon, this is not the end just yet. Pereira returned to his roots, visiting his tribe, as he shared in an Instagram post, to focus on spirituality before the rematch came knocking at his door. Do you think he will win the rematch? Share your thoughts in the comments below.