“I think I could’ve done a better job in the fight, but something just wasn’t working out,” said the newly crowned 205lbs champ, Magomed Ankalaev. The emotions were thick in the air, both inside the Octagon and across the arena. The ‘Chama’ roar? Silenced, for now. But then, UFC boss Dana White, master of cryptic one-word answers, hit us with a classic “probably” when asked about a rematch during the post-fight presser. And we all know what that usually means, don’t we?

The Dagestani, fresh off his UFC 313 victory, wasted no time making his case. His first tweet? A self-congratulatory nod. “I can outstrike the best strikers.” But then came the not-so-subtle jab at the former champ, Alex Pereira. “First 3 rounds, I made up my mind I will just strike with him, it was so much fun and it was not easy when all your opponent does is running. My pressure today was my best weapon and I’m very happy.”

And just when you thought that was the final word, Magomed Ankalaev, in what can only be described as a swift PR cleanup, followed up with a second tweet. And this time with a noticeably different tone, “@AlexPereiraUFC, it was an honor sharing the cage with you, you are a great champion and your team, your coaches have a lot of class. Let’s run it back anytime you want.”

Poll of the day

Poll 1 of 5

Do you think Magomed Ankalaev's call for a rematch with Alex Pereira is genuine or just a PR move?

Genuine, he respects Pereira

Just a PR move

Both, he wants the fight and the publicity

Not sure

Is Conor McGregor's potential return to combat sports with BKFC a smart move?

Absolutely, it's thrilling

No, it's too risky

Only if he fights top contenders

Not sure

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Do you believe Nick Diaz can make a successful comeback in MMA with the support of Georges St-Pierre?

Yes, he's a fighter at heart

No, his time has passed

Only if he overcomes personal issues

Not sure

Is Brendan Schaub right in calling Magomed Ankalaev's win a "nightmare" for the UFC?

Yes, Ankalaev's style is bad for business

No, a win is a win

Schaub is overreacting

Not sure

Do you think Alex Pereira deserved the "The One and Only" introduction from Bruce Buffer?

Absolutely, he's earned it

No way, he's not on that level

It's just UFC hype

Undecided

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A direct message or more like a direct challenge? Either way, the Brazilian former champion is not exactly the type to let accusations of “running” slide. And with UFC’s head honcho probably in the mix, the rematch is already writing itself.

But let’s get one thing straight, this whole rematch talk? That honor goes to the former champ. Just hours after the fight, he sat down with his team, pizza in hand, and declared on Instagram. “Gonna make some adjustments for the rematch and I’ll be back much better.” The man is already plotting his revenge.

How was Magomed Ankalaev’s win received in his home region?

If you’re a Russian fighter winning a UFC belt, you can be sure two names will pop up in your mentions. The Dagestani leader, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and his protege, Islam Makhachev. And, sure enough, both had something to say about Ankalaev’s victory. First up, ‘The Eagle’ himself. Khabib wasted no time congratulating his fellow countryman, tweeting, “Congratulations Brother, Magomed Ankalaev. You made history. It was an amazing performance against a very tough opponent.” Short, sweet, and straight out of the Dagestani handbook of humble bragging.

Then came the only other active Russian UFC champion. “Another belt goes to Dagestan, Russia. Congratulations brother. Excellent performance.” Now, let’s talk about the part no one’s saying out loud. Ankalaev’s win might’ve saved Makhachev from being dethroned in the pound-for-pound rankings. Before UFC 313, White made it clear talking to Jim Rome, that if ‘Poatan’ won, he would likely leapfrog Islam to be considered the #1 P4P. But with Ankalaev’s victory, that debate is officially on ice. Mere luck? Maybe. But we doubt Makhachev is losing any sleep over it.

But beyond just rankings, Ankalaev’s win put the spotlight back on Dagestan’s dominance in the UFC which took a hit at UFC 311 when Merab Dvalishvili successfully defended his bantamweight title against Umar Nurmagomedov, handing Dagestan one of its rare big-stage setbacks. We even questioned if the wave of Dagestani dominance is slowly deteriorating. But Ankalaev’s victory, while he isn’t from the same camp, was a firm statement. Dagestani fighters are still championship material, and they aren’t going anywhere!

So, what’s next? Well, Ankalaev fought during Ramadan, which means he’ll likely take some time off to observe it properly now that the chaos has settled. What do you think? Will Pereira’s adjustments be enough, or will Ankalaev once again prove that Dagestani pressure is a nightmare? Let us know what you think in the comments below!