The light heavyweight division’s quiet assassin has finally found his voice. Magomed Ankalaev is fresh off his dominant victory at UFC 308 against Aleksandar Rakic. He has traded his normally stoic demeanor for a megaphone. The Dagestani fighter launched a verbal assault aimed at both current champion Alex Pereira and former middleweight king Israel Adesanya.
Following his unanimous decision win over Rakic in Abu Dhabi, Ankalaev decided to spice things up. Taking to social media, he referenced Adesanya’s previous knockout victory over Pereira with a backhanded compliment. In one single tweet, he managed to insult two elite fighters with remarkable efficiency.
“@AlexPereiraUFC if this is skinny guy make you sleep what do you think I can do to you please @Mickmaynard2 @danawhite get my next meal ready for me.”
The timing of Ankalaev’s callout couldn’t be more strategic. With the UFC’s ranking system getting a recent overhaul, he’s positioned himself perfectly for title contention. The promotion’s apparent reluctance to match Pereira against strong grapplers hasn’t escaped notice. This has led Magomed Ankalaev to suggest that the UFC brass might be playing protective parents with their Brazilian champion.
While Pereira has indicated he’s looking for a breather until at least March, Magomed Ankalaev’s aggressive campaigning has put both the champion and the UFC in an interesting position. The ball now sits in Pereira’s court, though knowing Ankalaev, it’s probably accompanied by a strongly worded message about running and hiding.
Jamahal Hill Brands Magomed Ankalev’s Win At UFC 308 As “Boring”
When it comes to fight analysis, Jamahal Hill has never been one to sugarcoat his opinions. The former UFC light heavyweight champion didn’t hold back in his assessment of Ankalaev’s recent victory at UFC 308. Hill’s critique arrived by branding the fight with a “boring” label.
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Hill took to his YouTube channel to break down what he saw as a lackluster performance by the Dagestani fighter. In a detailed analysis, the former champion pointed out Magomed Ankalaev’s apparent limitations as a striker.
“Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakic: Holy shit, what a pretty boring fight. Pretty boring, fellas. I’m going to be real. It showed a lack of weapons. It showed a lack of weapons on Magomed’s end.”
Magomed Ankalaev is likely next in line for a title shot. The former champion didn’t just criticize the fighting style; he questioned whether such a performance should even warrant a title opportunity. Now, it is up to the matchmakers to see if it indeed warrants a title shot.
Also Read: Dana White Confirms Magomed Ankalaev As The Next Title Challenger For Alex Pereira
