LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – Magomed Ankalaev is waiting on a call to headline UFC 300.
Ankalaev came up big in the first Ulitmate Fighting Championship (UFC) main event last night at UFC Vegas 84 (Sat., Jan. 13, 2024) when he knocked Johnny Walker out in the second round with a nose-shattering punch from inside the UFC Apex in Las Vegas (watch highlights).
Ankalaev was not shy about what he wants next: a Light Heavyweight title shot against Alex Pereira.
Pereira’s coach and former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira even tweeted at the Russian.
Great knockout. We will see u soon. #UFCFightNight
— glover teixeira (@gloverteixeira) January 14, 2024
Ankalaev responded to Teixeira during the UFC Vegas 84 post-fight press conference and promised he wouldn’t grapple with the champion.
“I could have come out here today and wrestled against Johnny Walker. I could have taken him down right away and won with my ground and pound on the ground. But instead, I wanted to send a message,” Ankalaev said. “I wanted to stand up, and I wanted to knock him out. And that’s what I did. Now, for Glover Teixeira, I have a message. Don’t waste your time trying to teach your student how to wrestle or grapple. He’s not going to need it. I’m gonna come out there; I’m gonna stand across from him. And I know that he’s been knocked out before as a middleweight. So imagine what’s going to happen if I meet him at Light Heavyweight. Trust me, he’s not going to feel comfortable there.”
With an Ankalaev vs. Pereira matchup looking like it will happen sooner rather than later, MMAMania.com asked the Russian if he’d be willing to turn around and fight in three months at UFC 300 in the main event.
“Of course I’m ready,” Ankalaev said. “I’m just waiting for the message that I’m going in.”
The only problem with an Ankalaev vs. Pereira fight being booked is that Jamahal Hill has been promised a title shot upon his return. Still, no one knows his exact timeline of complete recovery.
And with a rumored Brazil pay-per-view in May, why burn Periera at UFC 300 when he can fight a month later in his home country …
For complete UFC Vegas 84 results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.