Alex Pereira returned to the octagon last weekend but faced a tough challenge. He lost to Magomed Ankalaev by unanimous decision at UFC 313, and with that defeat, he also lost the light heavyweight title. Henry Cejudo, a former two-division champion, thinks Pereira’s lifestyle might have played a role in his performance. He pointed out that Pereira’s lack of recent fights against top contenders might have impacted his rankings.
“Pereira’s mouth was open like the majority of the damn fight. His lifestyle could be a factor. He’s a great light-heavyweight, but he never fought the #1 contender, Ankalaev,” Cejudo remarked.
Pereira spent a lot of time promoting himself prior to the fight, and it seemed to affect his performance inside the cage. While Ankalaev struggled to land any takedowns, the threat of his grappling kept Pereira cautious. After this loss, Pereira dropped five spots to number eight in the pound-for-pound rankings.
Both Pereira and Ankalaev have shown interest in an immediate rematch. Ankalaev recently revealed that discussions for a rematch are currently underway.
“Negotiations are already in progress for a rematch. We’re ready if they want it,” Ankalaev shared.
After their fight, Ankalaev expressed a desire to defend his title in Abu Dhabi, where the UFC often holds events in October. While other contenders are in the mix, it appears Pereira will likely get a chance to reclaim his title after defending it three times over six months in 2024. However, he will need to adapt his strategy, as he was outstruck in their first match.
