The aftermath of the UFC 313 headline fight between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev is still fresh, but the two are already gearing up for a rematch. Why not? The contest ended with a close scorecard (48-47, 48-47, 49-46), with many feeling that Pereira had the upper hand that night. Despite the close score, ‘Poatan’ lost his light heavyweight title to the Russian Powerhouse, who made history as the third Dagestani fighter to claim a UFC championship, following Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev.

But Magomed Ankalaev’s desire for a rematch seems fueled by more than just the title. Ankalaev and his coach, Shukhrab Magomedov, have begun stoking the flames of tension for their next encounter. The coach stirred controversy by accusing the Brazilian of greasing his body during their first fight. “When Magomed pushed him to the fence near our corner, it seemed to me that Pereira had some kind of substance on him,”  Magomedov remarked.

A few days later, Magomed Ankalaev added fuel to the fire, saying, “I have a date and I’ve already accepted… This time, there will be no five rounds, I don’t get paid by the hour,” signaling his intention to finish Alex Pereira early. Ankalaev has now officially set the timeline for their rematch, posting on X, “August, but please #noVaseline.” He also shared, “I see all my kids in London, having fun, but I’m back in the gym already. See you soon, boys.”

With the date set for Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev 2.0, the ball is now in Dana White and the UFC’s court to officially greenlight the event. One thing is clear: Team Khabib believes that if the Russian Powerhouse performs as he did in their first fight and outclasses ‘Poatan’, “he’s going to be a bigger star because people are paying attention to him,” said Team Khabib coach Javier Mendez. The stakes for this rematch are high, and Alex Pereira’s rival has a few lessons to take into account. Let’s dive in.

Jamahal Hill’s advice for Alex Pereira ahead of rematch with Magomed Ankalaev

Former light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill has recently softened his stance on Alex Pereira, his former rival. While Hill once had negative views about the Brazilian, his opinion has shifted following Pereira’s loss of the light heavyweight title to Magomed Ankalaev. This week, Hill offered advice to ‘Poatan’, urging him to make key adjustments if he wants to regain his title. UFC president Dana White has already given the green light for the rematch, calling it “probably” approved, which means the showdown between Pereira and Ankalaev is likely on the horizon.

‘Sweat Dreams’, who initially predicted Magomed Ankalaev victory, now believes Alex Pereira has the ability to win the rematch—provided he makes some critical changes. Speaking to ‘Home of Fight,’ Hill shared his insights: “I think he can. I think he’s very capable of making the adjustments necessary to win that fight. He’s going to need to lock in at the gym to avoid getting tired. He’ll need to improve his cardio because his output will have to increase. His kick game will need more volume—adding more kicks and working with a higher output in this fight will be key to his success.”

What’s your take on the upcoming rematch between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev 2.0? Do you think the Brazilian can regain his lost gold and settle the score with Ankalaev and his team? Share your thoughts below.