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UFC 307 Headliner Alex Pereira Calls Out 'Boring' Top Contender

UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira unloaded on Magomed Ankalaev for why the fight was never booked.

Zain Bando

Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Alex Pereira (red gloves) prepares to fight Jiri Prochazka (not pictured) during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Jun 29, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Alex Pereira (red gloves) prepares to fight Jiri Prochazka (not pictured) during UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) headlines UFC 307 next Saturday night in Salt Lake City, Utah, against Khalil Rountree Jr. (13-5 MMA, 9-5, 1 NC UFC). However, the MMA community appears to still be up in arms over why Magomed Ankalaev was passed up for a title shot despite a 10-fight unbeaten streak.

Pereira gave his perspective on the situation in an interview with long-time MMA journalist Kevin Iole, posted Sunday morning. He denies avoiding a potential fight against the 10-1 UFC standout.

“You gotta sort that with the organization," Pereira said via translation. "It’s not my fault that Ankalaev has such a boring style of fighting that nobody wants to watch.”

Pereira did clarify he has nothing against Ankalaev. He said whenever the UFC and Ankalaev want to make the fight, he'll be ready.

"I'm ready to fight the guy," Pereira said. "So, whenever they put that fight [together], people talk about my ground [game]. So, that's a good chance for me to show everybody [my skills]."

Pereira has taken the light heavyweight division by storm over the last year. He has gone on a colossal tear since winning the vacant title last November. The Rountree fight is his third this year, dispatching Jiří Procházka and Jamahal Hill within three months. It's his fifth-straight headliner since joining the promotion and sixth overall.

Pereira is part of a rare list of fighters who have made the successful transition from kickboxing to MMA. He and Israel Adesanya were close to securing a potential MMA trilogy next year, but now those plans seem easier said than done given Adesanya's loss to Dricus du Plessis last month.

Pereira attempts to maintain the light heavyweight strap by cementing himself as one of the divisional greats. If he can successfully defend again, the sky's the limit.

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Zain Bando
ZAIN BANDO

Zain Bando is a writer for MMA Knockout, part of the Sports Illustrated/Minute Media umbrella. He has covered combat sports since 2019 for notable outlets BJPenn.com and FanSided MMA. He also co-hosts a podcast called "The MMA Outsiders," part of the Empty The Bench Podcast Network, which airs Tuesday nights at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT. A Chicago suburban native, Bando has been enthralled with MMA since 2006 and has been fortunate to attend some of the most high-profile events in the sport's history, both as a fan and media member, including UFC 264, Bellator 297 and Kayla Harrison's PFL MMA debut. He is excited to take the next step in his combat sports writing journey and looks forward to continuing his following of the fight game for years to come. Bando can be reached via email at zainbando99@gmail.com or by social media @zainbando99

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