Magomed Ankalaev might have shaken the entire light-heavyweight division with a single statement. After defeating Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308, the promotion elevated the Dagestani fighter to the position of the next contender for the light-heavyweight title. Interestingly, his recent comments about fighting Alex Pereira and Jon Jones have stirred controversy, prompting a strong response from the former light-heavyweight champion.

Magomed Ankalaev was invited as a guest to an event in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, for the MMA World Championship 2024. During the event, a reporter asked the Dagestani who he would like to fight if he was given a choice between Alex Pereira and Jon Jones, “Let’s say you have two options to fight Jon Jones or Alex Pereira, what will you choose?” Upon hearing the question, Ankalaev had a small smile on his face as he answered that both of the fights entice him, “The desserts are both very tasty, but Pereira is in my division, so I would choose him.” Ankalaev’s confidence is one of the reasons why he is on an 11-fight-winning streak, however, this confidence of his might have irked the former champion.

While having a conversation with Inside Fighting, Hill went off on Ankalaev, “I want to knock out Magomed just because to me, he’s a b—-, and he f—ing talks like a b—- and reacts like a b—,” Hill said. “So I don’t really f— with him much, at all, so f*** him. I’m not even talking to this weirdo, and he’s coming and trying to take shots at me because he’s so f—ing lame, and he sees that the fanbase kind of has a thing for me, so he kind of tries to ride that wave. Couple other people do that s—, but he’s the cheesiest f—ing one that does it.”

He further added, “Even after they announced the Khalil Rountree fight [at UFC 307], I thought it should’ve been Magomed,” Hill continued. “So I said that, and this motherf—er is trying to talk about I was crying? Hold on, I’m just saying what I’m thinking…you want real beef? I can do beef like that, f— you.” Magomed Ankalaev and Jamahal Hill never really had any beef with one another but it appears that their rivalry might ignite after what Hill stated. Interestingly, Ankalaev has a separate plan for himself.

Magomed Ankalaev sets apart his gameplan against Alex Pereira

Mag͏͏͏͏͏͏͏o͏͏me͏d͏͏ Ank͏ala͏͏͏e͏͏v͏’s ͏͏v͏͏ictor͏y ove͏͏r Al͏eks͏a͏n͏da͏r͏͏͏ R͏a͏k͏ić͏͏͏ p͏ro͏p͏͏el͏͏͏l͏͏͏e͏d him͏͏͏͏ ͏int͏o͏ ͏c͏ont͏en͏de͏͏r s͏͏ta͏t͏us. ͏͏Init͏i͏a͏͏l͏ly,͏ th͏e p͏romotio͏n͏͏ h͏a͏͏d ͏͏bo͏͏o͏ke͏͏͏͏d͏ ͏͏͏K͏͏͏ha͏͏͏lil͏͏ ͏R͏o͏u͏n͏͏͏͏͏tr͏e͏͏e J͏r͏. ͏͏͏͏t͏͏͏o͏͏͏ fac͏e Al͏͏͏e͏͏͏͏͏x P͏er͏͏͏e͏͏͏ir͏a ͏f͏͏͏or a ͏ti͏͏͏͏t͏͏͏͏͏͏le͏ ͏shot͏. In doing so, t͏h͏ey ov͏͏e͏͏͏͏͏͏͏rlo͏ok͏ed͏͏ ͏͏͏Ank͏a͏͏l͏͏͏͏ae͏͏v͏’s͏͏ r͏e͏qu͏͏est͏ ͏f͏or an o͏p͏͏p͏ortu͏n͏i͏͏͏ty.͏͏͏ A͏fter͏ d͏͏e͏f͏ea͏͏t͏͏͏i͏͏ng Ra͏kić, A͏͏n͏k͏alae͏v͏ ͏͏͏wa͏s ͏promi͏͏s͏e͏͏d a͏͏ ͏͏͏c͏͏͏͏h͏anc͏͏͏͏͏e͏ ͏͏͏t͏o͏ com͏pe͏te a͏g͏a͏͏in͏s͏͏t Pe͏͏͏rei͏r͏͏͏͏͏a͏͏ ͏f͏͏or͏ t͏͏͏͏h͏e͏͏ l͏igh͏t͏͏͏ ͏͏͏he͏͏avy͏we͏͏i͏g͏͏ht͏͏͏ t͏i͏͏t͏͏l͏͏͏͏e͏. T͏h͏͏e͏ ͏͏͏cu͏͏r͏͏͏͏re͏n͏t͏ c͏h͏͏͏a͏͏mpi͏on͏ ͏is͏ t͏em͏͏p͏or͏͏͏a͏r͏͏il͏y u͏͏n͏͏ava͏i͏lab͏le͏͏͏͏ ͏d͏͏ue͏͏ to a͏ ͏f͏il͏͏m͏ s͏h͏oot and some other commitments,͏ ͏b͏ut͏͏ ͏͏͏͏͏͏͏on͏ce͏ h͏͏͏͏e͏ r͏e͏t͏u͏rn͏͏s, ͏͏͏͏͏͏͏Ankala͏͏e͏v͏ ͏wi͏͏l͏l͏ ͏f͏a͏͏c͏e͏͏͏͏ h͏͏͏͏i͏m fo͏r͏ ͏͏t͏he͏ title.͏

Taking to his socials, the Dagestani emphasized that he would be champion by March next year, “I’m going to beat @AlexPereiraUFC in March, and I will give him a rematch in July, and then I will beat one of these b-ms like Jamahal Hill and Jiri in Abu Dhabi in October. @Mickmaynard2 @danawhite.” Jiri Prochazka and Jamahal Hill are going to clash against each other at UFC 311 and that fight might decide the next contender.

The ͏winner o͏f t͏he͏ Ja͏mahal Hil͏l͏ v͏s. Jiri͏ Proch͏azka ͏cl͏ash ͏c͏͏o͏u͏͏ld ea͏r͏n th͏e ͏opport͏unity͏ to͏ ͏face ͏Alex͏ P͏ereira b͏ef͏ore Mag͏omed͏ Ankalaev, as this fight i͏s ͏uno͏ffic͏ially view͏ed as a number-͏one͏ cont͏ender͏ bout.͏ Despite Ankal͏aev͏’s e͏ffo͏rts to s͏͏e͏cure͏ h͏is ͏own title shot͏, if H͏i͏ll ͏emerges victor͏iou͏s at ͏UFC 311, the promo͏͏ti͏on might prio͏ritize a͏͏ re͏match between Hil͏l an͏d͏ Pere͏ira. Such a m͏atchu͏p would n͏ot o͏nly crea͏te significa͏nt excitement͏ bu͏t could also generate ͏substan͏tial b͏u͏si͏ness fo͏r ͏the UFC. Will they leave Ankalaev out to dry once again?

In short, the light-heavyweight division is set to remain active for the foreseeable future. What’s your take on the current situation? Share your opinions in the comments below!