It looks like Magomed Ankalaev isn’t a fan of Alex Pereira’s dance moves! The reigning UFC light heavyweight champion and Ankalaev are set to clash at UFC 313 on March 8. Currently on an unbeaten streak that began in 2018, the Russian challenger has been watching his opponent’s movements closely. Both in and out of the Octagon. And to him, Pereira’s recent antics look less like championship preparation and more like viral social media content.

Why? Well, ‘Poatan’ has been globe-trotting and was present at UFC 312 to corner Sean Strickland in Australia. Other than that, his ever-growing social media presence, partially bolstered by collaborations with influencer Nina Marie Daniele or ‘Nina Drama’ has also become a fixture for the fans. And now, as fight night nears, Ankalaev has had enough of Pereira’s showmanship.

Magomed Ankalaev goes off on a heated tirade against “TikTok chick” Alex Pereira

In a series of scathing posts on X, Ankalaev didn’t mince his words. First, he took aim at Alex Pereira’s travel schedule. He wrote, “This guy keep traveling and he forget he will be fighting for his life March 8. He will never be the same after this fight [Dana White], mark my word.”

For Ankalaev, this isn’t just another title fight—it’s a mission. And in his eyes, Pereira isn’t treating it with the seriousness it deserves. But the real dagger came when Ankalaev compared Pereira to a social media influencer rather than a fighter. “I’ve been climbing mountain, chopping wood, swimming in freezing lake,” he stated, before taking a direct shot at the champ. “And Alex been dancing and making video like TikTok chick.”

The frustration from Ankalaev is palpable in his posts. After all, their journeys to the top of their division couldn’t be more different. Pereira, a former kickboxing champion turned two-division UFC titleholder, has bulldozed through opponents at an astonishing rate. He needed just 4 UFC fights to become middleweight champion and then, in only his second fight at light heavyweight, captured gold again. His meteoric rise has propelled him into one of the sport’s biggest stars.

But is Ankalaev reading too much into Pereira’s lifestyle? The Brazilian has always carried himself with an air of confidence, blending his serious training with a laid-back demeanor. His calm approach might not be the traditional blueprint for success, but it has worked wonders so far. If anything, ‘Poatan’ has shown time and time again that when the cage door closes, he transforms into a cold-blooded finisher.

But while Alex Pereira was making highlight reels, Ankalaev was quietly grinding his way to the top, collecting dominant wins over the likes of Anthony Smith and Johnny Walker. He may not have the flash, but he believes he has the formula to stop Pereira once and for all!

Ankalaev brings up Israel Adesanya fight as a reminder to ‘Poatan’ for UFC 313  

Magomed Ankalaev isn’t just looking to win—he’s out for something more. In his eyes, Alex Pereira represents everything wrong with modern champions. The fame, the flash, the social media antics, the Russian fighter is aiming to put an end to all of that come UFC 313. In a post on X, he shared, “I never wanna hurt someone in my life like I want hurt Alex. He is a fake humble boy.”

Not done just yet, he then took aim ‘Poatan’s rivalry with Israel Adesanya. While their first fight in the UFC went to the Brazilian, Adesanya had the last laugh, knocking Pereira out cold in their rematch at UFC 287. Ankalaev hasn’t forgotten that moment. In fact, he sees it as a blueprint as he shared a gif of that moment with the caption, “Don’t forget, I will make a copy of this.”

It’s a chilling promise. For Pereira, this fight is more than just another title defense. It’s a chance to prove that his reign isn’t a fluke, that he isn’t just a highlight-reel striker riding momentum. Ankalaev, however, sees it as a reckoning. A reminder that hard work and discipline still matter more than viral clips and media tours.

Will Ankalaev silence the showman and impose his will? Or will Pereira remind him why he became a two-division champion in the first place? Let us know what you think will happen once the Octagon doors close behind them at UFC 313!