Despite UFC 313 being behind us, the 205lbs title headliner between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira remains a hot topic of debate. Why? Well, because of the way the Dagestani dethroned the fan-favorite champion by dominating him on the feet and never allowing the Brazilian to fully lock in and load his trademark haymakers. But with many claiming that the matchup was closer than it seemed, a demand for a rematch was inevitable with both the champ and challenger onboard. “I have a date and I accepted already, I hope my opponent will accept too. This time there will be no 5 rounds, I don’t get paid by the hour #BigANK.” Ankalaev wrote on X and seemed to confirm the rematch in August.

“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.” The Brazilian stated on ‘The Ariel Helwani Show’. With both parties seemingly agreeing to run it back, it remains to be seen when we will see this matchup. But will it be a repeat of their first outing? Former 185lbs champion Robert Whittaker, who had previously backed Pereira before UFC 313 has since shifted his stance amid the increasing hype. Bobby Knuckles recently shared his thoughts, stating, “I don’t see the second fight going any differently,” a view that resonates with many others. However, not everyone agrees!

Charles Oliveira, the former lightweight champion, also weighed in on the potential rematch. In an interview with UFC veteran Chael Sonnen, Sonnen asked ‘Do Bronx’ about how the Brazilian fans felt about Magomed Ankalaev’s victory over Alex Pereira. Oliveira responded honestly, praising ‘Poatan’s performance, saying, “Alex did very well.“

Moreover, he didn’t hold back in his prediction for the rematch, while also acknowledging Pereira’s previous showing. “He defended all his takedowns and took him down once. The only time he connected a good punch on Alex was when he was walking backward, but other than that, he just held him against the cage. Alex fought pretty well. On the rematch that’s going to happen soon, Alex will knock him out in the second round,” Oliveira claimed.

On a night that will be etched in UFC history, Pereira’s 1.4-year reign as champion came to a shocking end at UFC 313. Despite entering the fight as the favorite, the Brazilian struggled to find his rhythm, while Ankalaev seized control and delivered a dominant performance. Even UFC head honcho Dana White admitted, “It was not what I expected.”

However, ‘Poatan’s camp remained adamant that he had done enough to win, claiming victories in the 1st, 3rd, and 5th rounds. Still, his performance drew heavy criticism, with Michael Bisping and others questioning his urgency and desire to win. Meanwhile, the UFC color commentator and podcast host Joe Rogan shed light on a potential reason for Alex Pereira’s underwhelming performance. Speaking on his podcast earlier this month, Rogan claimed that the Brazilian stepped into the Octagon at UFC 313 with a broken hand. But is that the case? Let’s hear it from Alex Pereira himself!

Alex Pereira responds after Joe Rogan’s claims regarding UFC 313 headliner

“They say he fought with a broken hand and norovirus against Ankalaev… He fought with a broken toe before,” Joe Rogan remarked on his JRE podcast, suggesting that Alex Pereira was not in peak physical condition during UFC 313. This claim raised some eyebrows, considering the Brazilian’s reputation as one of the UFC’s most active and durable fighters. Known for stepping up on short notice to salvage lackluster fight cards, ‘Poatan’ has repeatedly proven his toughness.

A notable example was UFC 303, when Conor McGregor pulled out of his fight with Michael Chandler, leaving the main event in jeopardy. Alex Pereira swiftly agreed to face Jiri Prochazka just months after competing at the historic UFC 300. While injuries are nothing new for the Brazilian, Rogan’s comments about his condition after the UFC 313 loss prompted a response from the fighter himself. Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Pereira addressed the issue, stating:

“I’m not trying to take credit away from Ankalaev,” Alex Pereira said through an interpreter. “Many people try to do that kind of thing, and I’m not this type of guy. Everybody goes through problems, and I’m sure he had his own problems, too. I had mine. My hand is fine, but it did affect things. But I don’t want to use that as an excuse. I don’t want to make excuses. I don’t want to use this as leverage for anything.”

While Alex Pereira didn’t dwell on excuses, he did open up about a significant detail: he was initially considered unfit to compete at UFC 313. Despite losing his title that night, the Brazilian expressed no regrets, stating, “It wasn’t my moment.” Now, with a potential rematch between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev on the horizon, what’s your take on this upcoming fight? Do you think Pereira has lived up to Charles Oliveira’s prediction? Share your thoughts below.