No. 2-ranked light heavyweight bruiser Magomed Ankalaev wasn’t skipped over, he simply wasn’t picked — in favor of a lower ranked contender — when it came time to find a new challenger for the 205-pound crown, currently worn by Brazilian smashing machine Alex Pereira.
So says UFC CEO Dana White, who may not understand what “skipped over” means.
‘’He didn’t get skipped over, he’s got a fight coming up,” White told reporters on Tuesday. “We were laying the fights out now. Ankalaev’s got a fight lined up — go in there, do your thing, look great, obviously you’re next. We had to make this fight card and as you go down the line you start looking at it, it’s clear Rountree makes a lot of sense and you said it yourself, ‘No way in hell that’s not a fun one.’ Timing is everything.’’
Ankalaev will instead fight No. 5-ranked Aleksandar Rakic, loser of two straight.
Pereira is scheduled to defend the 205-pound strap against No. 8-ranked Khalil Rountree atop the upcoming UFC 307 pay-per-view (PPV) event on Oct. 5 in Salt Lake City. “Poatan” insists he has no qualms about fighting Ankalaev; however, it seems the promotion wants to squeeze a few more eggs from its “golden goose.”
To see who else is fighting at UFC 307 in Salt Lake City click here.