“Not many men on this planet can go five rounds with me, let alone put it on me… I said it from day one—Magomed Ankalaev is the future light heavyweight champion.” Those were the words of Sean Strickland back in 2022, after training with Ankalaev. At the time, he had no idea that his prediction would come true in 2025—at the expense of his now-close ally and sparring partner, Alex Pereira. Ironically, ‘Poatan’ was once Strickland’s bitter rival in the middleweight division. Fate has a way of rewriting narratives.

At UFC 313 last week, Magomed Ankalaev delivered a seismic shift in the light heavyweight division, defying expectations with a dominant performance. Inside the T-Mobile Arena, he systematically dismantled Alex Pereira, who appeared unusually cautious. The former champion struggled to find his trademark left hook, while the Russian’s relentless pressure and grappling threats kept him on the defensive, dictating the pace from start to finish.

With his victory, Magomed Ankalaev became the third Dagestani fighter to claim a UFC title. Unlike Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov, who won vacant belts, the Russian fighter made history as the first to dethrone an active champion. As the dust settles, an old video has resurfaced on Instagram, sparking speculation among fans. The clip, filmed in 2021, captures a brief but intriguing exchange between Alex Pereira’s coach, Glover Teixeira, and Ankalaev at a hotel during UFC 267. Using a mobile translator, Teixeira tells Ankalaev, “You’ll take over next.”

At the time, Teixeira had just submitted Jan Błachowicz via rear-naked choke to become the UFC light heavyweight champion, making history as the oldest fighter to claim the belt at 42. However, his reign was short-lived, as Jiri Procházka ended his championship run less than a year later. Now, with this old footage resurfacing, fans are buzzing with speculation—did Glover Teixeira unknowingly predict his own student’s downfall? Let’s take a look at what the fans have to say.

Fans responded as Magomed Ankalaev “kept his promise” to Glover Teixeira

Magomed Ankalaev also featured on the undercard of the Glover Teixeira vs. Jan Błachowicz title fight at UFC 267, held at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The Russian powerhouse faced Volkan Oezdemir on the main card, where he showcased his striking skills against the former title challenger. Ankalaev inflicted a deep cut above Oezdemir’s eyebrow, and despite the blood loss, Oezdemir fought through to the final round. However, Ankalaev’s performance earned him a unanimous decision victory, bringing him one step closer to a title shot.

At that time, Glover Teixeira saw Magomed Ankalaev as the rightful heir to the title. Keep in mind, Alex Pereira had only recently signed with the UFC. One fan commented, “And then he beat Glover’s student,” while another praised Ankalaev for keeping the promise he made to Teixeira by shaking hands, writing, “And Ank kept his promise.” It has been over four years since the Brazilian joined Teixeira’s gym in Danbury, Connecticut, at a time when ‘Poatan’ was transitioning from kickboxing to MMA. The coach invited Pereira to train, and since then, Pereira has flourished under his guidance.

One Instagram user admired Teixeira’s knack for spotting champions early, commenting, “Real recognize real.” Now, fans are calling for a rematch, with some advocating for a second showdown between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev. The UFC vet himself weighed in on the bout, sharing his opinion, “We had this defeat, but in my opinion, he won.” Another fan highlighted Glover Teixeira’s down-to-earth nature, writing, “One thing is for sure: if you don’t like Glover, you must not be a good person.” Another fan, who referred to him as, echoed this sentiment “Glover, the uncle everyone loves.”

A lifelong combat sports practitioner, Teixeira has seen it all, from being a member of the Brazilian wrestling team to earning an 8th-degree black belt in Kajukenbo and a 2nd-degree black belt in BJJ. One fan commented, “GLOVER KNEW IT ALL!!” After a long road to the title, Teixeira finally captured the UFC light heavyweight belt in 2021. In the comments, another fan mocked Alex Pereira, calling him a ‘paper champion,‘ writing, “Even Glover knew Big Ank is the truth. Poatan was only ever a paper champion.”

So, what’s your take on Magomed Ankalaev’s start as the 205-pound champion? Do you believe the judges’ scorecards were justified for the UFC 313 headline event, or do you think a real “robbery” occurred, as many have suggested? Share your thoughts below.