Magomed Ankalaev isn’t identified for his trash discuss however he had a lot to say when addressing Alex Pereira on Thursday in the course of the UFC 313 pre-fight press convention.
The often soft-spoken Russian was nearly uncharacteristically vocal on stage whereas coping with a raucous crowd that was largely backing his opponent. None of it appeared to hassle Ankalaev a lot as he smiled by the boos and vowed to alter the chants by the point Saturday night time’s major occasion is over.
“I’d wish to say that I see on this struggle everyone seems to be towards me,” Ankalaev mentioned. “Everyone seems to be saying ‘Chama! Chama! Chama!’ However guess what? Chama time is over. After this Saturday night time, after the struggle, you’ll all love me.
“The identical individuals which might be saying Chama now are going to be saying No Chama! It’s Ankalaev time.”
After all, ‘Chama’ is a phrase that Pereira has made well-known throughout his gorgeous run by the UFC the place he’s been a two-division champion with three title defenses already underneath his belt within the mild heavyweight division.
However regardless of his dominance, Pereira is barely favored to win in his newest struggle with many believing he’s dealing with his largest impediment but in Ankalaev.
With a 19-1 report with one no contest together with 10 knockouts and a background in fight sambo, Ankalaev seemingly has the scale and energy to provide Pereira issues irrespective of the place this struggle goes. That’s one of many the explanation why he’s been championed because the true No. 1 contender within the division for fairly a while after he got here up brief in his earlier bid at changing into champion following a cut up draw with Jan Blachowicz again in 2022.
That setback pressured Ankalaev to work slightly more durable to get again to a different title shot and he believes Pereira ought to be glad about that truth.
“I wasn’t upset in regards to the final [title] struggle,” Ankalaev mentioned. “I’ve no person accountable, it’s simply myself. We noticed the struggle. The entire world noticed the struggle nevertheless it occurred the way in which it occurred. Now it’s a complete totally different ballgame. It’s a distinct struggle, it’s a distinct opponent.
“You realize what? Actually, [Pereira] ought to say thanks to Dana White for shielding him this complete time. Now it’s going to be a complete totally different factor.”
Whereas the partisan crowd hardly ever quieted down a lot to permit Ankalaev to talk, he did get a number of questions from the Russian media assembled — together with one query about beating Pereira so unhealthy that he’s pressured to surrender his struggle profession and return to his previous job working at a tire store in Brazil.
Ankalaev couldn’t assist however snicker at that one earlier than responding.
“We’re planning on completely dominating him on Saturday,” Ankalaev mentioned. “We’re going to make it possible for Chama has no probabilities on Saturday. Whether or not or not he stays within the sport or decides to return to the tire store, that’s going to be as much as him. He’s going to be the one which has to make that call.”
For all of the methods Ankalaev expects to win and stroll out of UFC 313 as champion, he’s not even considering what comes subsequent till he will get by Pereira.
As a result of Pereira has been such a dominant champion, he may probably warrant a right away rematch irrespective of how the struggle performs out however Ankalaev prefers getting the job accomplished first earlier than he begins serious about that.
“For now we’re not concentrating on what’s going to occur afterwards,” Ankalaev mentioned. “Proper now, we’ve bought a struggle in entrance of us. Let’s go on the market, let’s win after which afterwards we’ll take into consideration who’s going to get the rematch or what.”
