UFC 313 is set to deliver one of the most compelling matchups in light heavyweight history. Reigning champion Alex Pereira is all set to defend his title against the dangerous Magomed Ankalaev. This high-stakes showdown promises a clash of styles, with Pereira’s elite striking facing off against Ankalaev’s well-rounded skill set. Since making his move to the 205-pound division, Pereira has established himself as a force to be reckoned with. The former middleweight champion wasted no time in claiming gold, using his devastating knockout power to carve through the competition.

‘Poatan’ is determined to solidify his legacy as one of the most dominant fighters in UFC history. However, standing in his way is Magomed Ankalaev, a man who has long been knocking on the championship door. Riding an impressive 13-fight unbeaten streak, the Dagestani powerhouse is known for his suffocating grappling, technical striking, and ability to control the pace of a fight. Just like most experts and fans, Dominick Cruz is also looking forward to the clash. This will be the first time the Brazilian will go up against a fighter who has the skillsets to dethrone the champion.

So what exactly should the 32-year-old do to get a victory? Well, according to Cruz, he should try to mix and match his style to come out on top. While speaking to Helen Yee on her show, he pointed out how dominant Pereira has been in recent years. However, he believes if there’s one fighter who can stop that’s Ankalaev.

He said, “Pereira, if you watch the film, he’s training with heavyweights and boxing, so his striking is looking phenomenal. If you just watch the films that he lets you see. But Ankalaev doesn’t let you see anything. So you have no reads, you don’t know how good a striking is or isn’t. And he says he’s going to strike, but I hope not to be honest because you know you want to see Pereira really challenged and I think the best way Ankalaev can challenge him is by mixing the striking and the wrestling together.” 

One fighter who has faced both these powerhouses is Jan Blachowicz. He knows exactly what the fighters bring to the table and the strengths they have. Just like Cruz, Blachowicz also believes that one cannot be one-dimensional against a fighter like Pereira. He also believes Ankalaev has all the skill sets to challenge the champion. So how exactly should he approach the fight? Let us take a look at what advice Jan Blachowicz has for his former rival.

Magomed Ankalaev needs to be more aggressive against Pereira feels Jan Blachowicz

Former UFC champion Michael Bisping recently dropped a new episode of his podcast, featuring fellow former UFC fighter Paul Felder as his co-host. In this episode, the duo dedicated a significant portion of their discussion to an engaging conversation with Polish standout Jan Błachowicz. One of the topics of discussion was the upcoming fight at UFC 313 between Pereira and Ankalaev. The Polish fighter reminded the 32-year-old that he needs to be a bit more aggressive in his next fight. Ankalaev’s last fight against Alexsandar Rakic went to the judge’s scorecard. However, he cannot take a chance this time around, feels the 42-year-old.

While speaking on the show he said, “So, if Ankalaev will be fighting like Rakic (Aleksandar Rakić) in the fight with Pereira, he gonna lose. He need to do something more. He need to use his wrestling skills to make like tired Pereira, to make tired his hands, and then he can start fighting in stand up. If he will fight in stand up all the way, like kick-boxer, he’s gonna lose the fight. This is my opinion. If he not gonna use his wrestling skill, he gonna do nothing you know.”

The Dagestani fighter has made some serious claims walking into the fight against Pereira. Not only will he have to counter the threat of his knockout power, he will also have to try and manage his distance to cause any sort of trouble to the Brazilian.

Who do you think will win the fight between the two? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.