March 5, 2025 12:55 pm ET
Magomed Ankalaev is a religious Muslim, however he’s made an exception about Ramadan for the sake of his well being heading into UFC 313.
Ankalaev, 32, challenges Alex Pereira for the sunshine heavyweight championship this Saturday at UFC 313 from T-Cell Area in Las Vegas (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPNews/Disney+, ESPN+).
When the combat was introduced in January, the timing was thought-about curious provided that it fell throughout the Islamic holy month of Ramadan by which Muslims are required to quick – abstaining from food and drinks – from daybreak to sundown on every of the 30 days as a option to apply self-restraint.
Ankalaev mentioned he’s been strictly adhering to Ramadan fasting guidelines because it started February 28. However with the combat simply days away and a weight reduce looming, Ankalaev defined that he’s loosened up.
“I’ve been following the quick strictly apart from this week, the place I should break it just a few instances as a result of I would like to ensure I drink water to have a profitable weight reduce,” Ankalaev informed Ag. Fight by way of an interpreter. However aside from that, I began with Ramadan. I’ve been fasting. And after the combat, I’ll clearly additionally comply with the principles of faith because it must be.”
Ankalaev (20-1-1 MMA, 11-1-1 UFC) enters UFC 313 on a 13-fight unbeaten streak, having not skilled defeat since a miracle submission in his UFC debut against Paul Craig in 2018. Since then, Ankalaev has 11 wins with one draw and one no contest. His draw got here in his first try at claiming the then-vacant mild heavyweight championship towards former champ Jan Blachowicz at UFC 282.
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