Belal Muhammad, the reigning standard at 170lbs, gave fans quite a scare on Halloween morning by announcing his withdrawal from UFC 310. ‘Bully B’ was forced to step back due to a bone infection in one of his toes. Meanwhile, Shavkat Rakhmonov remains eager for a fight, leaving fans and analysts speculating on who might step in as Muhammad’s replacement.

One name that keeps surfacing is Alex Pereira who has come to the UFC’s rescue on short notice more than once this year. Fresh off a victory over Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307, Pereira has shown he can handle quick turnarounds. While the timing might seem tight, one UFC insider believes Pereira might just be the one to save the card once again.

Alex Pereira might not be the ‘PPV saving messiah’ this time around

Following Belal Muhammad’s withdrawal from UFC 310, fans have speculated whether Alex “Poatan” Pereira would step in as a replacement yet again. The light heavyweight king has already had a busy 2024, defending his title three times with knockout wins over Jamahal Hill, Jiri Prochazka, and Khalil Rountree Jr.—two of which were on short notice. However, rumors of Pereira being a last-minute addition to the December card have met some skepticism.

An X user named Ranbo fueled the conversation by posting, “There is absolutely zero chance Pereira v Ankalaev gets booked for December. Absolutely zero.” UFC legend and veteran Chael Sonnen responded bluntly, dismissing the claim as “Fake News” and keeping the possibility open. Fans are now left to wonder if Pereira might surprise everyone once again.

However, Championship Rounds reported that Pereira vs. Ankalaev would most probably not be the new main event for UFC 310. Sonnen previously discussed this and refuted the claim on his YouTube channel as well where he declared, “Do you want me to tell you what they’re going to do? All right, they’re putting Ankalaev and Pereira in there. There you go, that’s the answer. But I didn’t want to get right to that because first off, that isn’t signed, but that has been offered, and that has been accepted by both parties.” 

‘The American Gangster has now doubled down, suggesting that the rumored 205lbs clash may be possible. While Sonnen seems convinced of his verdict, the question remains about what the fighters themselves think of all the buzz going around. 

Magomed Ankalaev gives his verdict on UFC 310

With the 205 lbs title fight being the focal point of discussion, tension has risen between contenders Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira. Ankalaev took to X, calling out Pereira with, “Alex, keep running.” However, these remarks have raised some eyebrows, given that Pereira initially expressed interest in fighting at UFC 310. Complicating things further, Ankalaev had previously turned down a fight against the Brazilian at UFC 300 due to it coinciding with Ramadan.

Ankalaev, fresh off a significant win over Aleksandar Rakic, is primed for a high-profile matchup, with the champion emerging as his probable next opponent. However, following his hard-fought victory over Khalil Rountree Jr., Pereira expressed a need for recovery time, suggesting this fight could be pushed to next year. Meanwhile, UFC CEO Dana White faces mounting pressure as the UFC 310 lineup shifts.

Amid the speculation, Chael Sonnen has praised Pereira, calling him the “gold standard” across two divisions, and is openly supporting a Pereira-Ankalaev matchup. Will the UFC make this blockbuster fight happen? Share your thoughts in the comments below!