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Manager Explains Magomed Ankalaev’s Confidence About KOing Alex Pereira: ‘He Said…Izzy Can’t Even Wash My Boots In Striking’

For a long time now, fight fans have theorized that Magomed Ankalaev is the biggest threat to the current light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira. The #1-ranked contender has beaten a lot of top opposition but it was his recent win over Aleksandar Raki? at UFC 308 which seemingly solidified his status as the next in […]

However, the Raki? fight did also raise some concerns regarding the way that Ankalaev might approach a clash with “Poatan”. Throughout 2024, Ankalaev was very clear on the idea that in a fight with Pereira, he would stand and strike with him, believing that he would knock the champion out whilst many have made the case for why this wouldn’t be a smart approach.

The Russian traded with Raki? for all three rounds this past October even after he lost the first five minutes because he didn’t attempt to test his opponent’s grappling and though he came out on top, he was clearly going out of his way to prove a point. Ankalaev has shown himself to be a very effective striker but in the current titleholder, you’re talking about a hall of fame level kickboxer.

Ali Abdelaziz spoke in a recent interview with MMA Junkie about the confidence of the challenger right now in regards to his striking. As the manager of the number one contender, he said that his fighter is convinced that he will shock the world by stopping “Poatan” without using his grappling when they eventually go head-to-head.

“Ankalaev, what he told me, he said, ‘I’m not wrestling with [Pereira]. I’m gonna show everybody. Izzy can’t even wash my boots in striking. I’m gonna knock Alex Pereira out. Get the respect I’ve deserved for a long time.’ It’s a long task to strike with [Pereira] and knock him out. But I believe Ankalaev can do it.”

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It’s just been just shy of three weeks since Joaquin Buckley busted up Colby Covington in the most recent UFC fight. As is often the case when the promotion…

Ex-UFC King Snubs Alex Pereira, Picks Ilia Topuria as Top Fighter in 2024 With His Stunning Featherweight Takeover

Sorry Alex Pereira, you were not the Fighter of the Year according to one former UFC champion. While ‘Poatan’…

Sorry Alex Pereira, you were not the Fighter of the Year according to one former UFC champion.

While ‘Poatan’ topped many of 2024’s best-of lists, including LowKick MMA’s own Fighter of the Year award, former middleweight king Robert Whittaker thinks there was another fighter who outperformed the Brazilian boogeyman over the last 12 months.

“My fight of the year—and I’ve mentioned this on a Unibet video that I did recently as well—is Ilia Topuria,” Whittaker said on his MMArcade podcast. “I think, not only… yeah, I think the work that he has put in this year, the names that he has defeated in his division, like Alex Volkanovski—probably one of the best featherweights ever—and Max Holloway, one of the best featherweights ever again.

“Two guys that stand out to me in that division, so far ahead of the rest of the division. I mean, the gap was massive. It’s like, when we saw Volk beat Max, and then Max didn’t reclaim that title, I—and a lot of other people—thought, “Who beats him?” Because then Max went back to the pool and just started destroying people. You saw how big that gap difference was between Max and the rest of the division, which means, how good is Volk?

“And then Topuria comes in and finishes both of them.”

Who’s 2024 was better? Alex Pereira or Ilia Topuria?

For most people, it was a close call between Pereira and Topuria. ‘Poatan’ successfully defended his light heavyweight world title three times throughout the year, scoring highlight-reel knockouts against Jamahal Hill, Jiri Prochazka, and Khalil Rountree.

Meanwhile, ‘El Matador’ changed the landscape of the featherweight division, starting with his stunning second-round knockout of Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February. He followed that up with a history-making win over division staple Max Holloway, becoming the first fighter to KO ‘Blessed’ in his mixed martial arts career.

Beating two of the absolute best 145’ers of all time in back-to-back fights was enough for many, including Whittaker, to give Topuria the Fighter of the Year honors.

Do you agree with ‘The Reaper,’ or were Pereira’s trio of title defenses more impressive than what Topuria accomplished?

Ex-UFC King Snubs Alex Pereira, Picks Ilia Topuria as Top Fighter in 2024 With His Stunning Featherweight Takeover

Sorry Alex Pereira, you were not the Fighter of the Year according to one former UFC champion. While ‘Poatan’…

Sorry Alex Pereira, you were not the Fighter of the Year according to one former UFC champion.

“My fight of the year—and I’ve mentioned this on a Unibet video that I did recently as well—is Ilia Topuria,” Whittaker said on his MMArcade podcast. “I think, not only… yeah, I think the work that he has put in this year, the names that he has defeated in his division, like Alex Volkanovski—probably one of the best featherweights ever—and Max Holloway, one of the best featherweights ever again.

“Two guys that stand out to me in that division, so far ahead of the rest of the division. I mean, the gap was massive. It’s like, when we saw Volk beat Max, and then Max didn’t reclaim that title, I—and a lot of other people—thought, “Who beats him?” Because then Max went back to the pool and just started destroying people. You saw how big that gap difference was between Max and the rest of the division, which means, how good is Volk?

“And then Topuria comes in and finishes both of them.”

Who’s 2024 was better? Alex Pereira or Ilia Topuria?

Beating two of the absolute best 145’ers of all time in back-to-back fights was enough for many, including Whittaker, to give Topuria the Fighter of the Year honors.

Do you agree with ‘The Reaper,’ or were Pereira’s trio of title defenses more impressive than what Topuria accomplished?

Ali Abdelaziz Confident Islam Makhachev Could Finish Alex Pereira At Light Heavyweight

Ali Abdelaziz boldly declared that Islam Makhachev is such a flawlessly versatile fighter that he could defeat anyone in the UFC, even someone three weight classes up like Alex Pereira. The reigning UFC lightweight champion stands as the promotion’s current pound-for-pound (P4P) No. 1, a status he’s earned by remaining undefeated since September 2016. With […]

Ali Abdelaziz boldly declared that Islam Makhachev is such a flawlessly versatile fighter that he could defeat anyone in the UFC, even someone three weight classes up like Alex Pereira.

The reigning UFC lightweight champion stands as the promotion’s current pound-for-pound (P4P) No. 1, a status he’s earned by remaining undefeated since September 2016. With three successful title defenses under his belt, he’s on the brink of surpassing his close friend Khabib Nurmagomedov to solidify his legacy as the greatest 155-pound fighter of all time.

Makhachev’s remarkable achievements, combined with his relentless, grappling-heavy fighting style, have more than convinced his manager, Abdelaziz, that the Dagestani is unquestionably deserves his place at the top of the P4P rankings.

During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Abdelaziz even confidently proclaimed that Makhachev’s skills are so exceptional that he could finish any opponent from the UFC’s lightweight to middleweight divisions — going as far as defeating light heavyweight king Pereira.

“I don’t think any man from 155 pounds to 185 pounds can beat Islam Makhachev,” Abdelaziz said. “It doesn’t exist. I believe 155, 170, 185, I think Islam can beat anybody at any given day. This is what I believe in because what he’s shown me, the development, the improvement. I think Islam will beat Alex Pereira at 205, I do. I swear to Allah. I think Islam Makhachev will beat Alex Pereira.”

The Dominance MMA owner further conceded that “Poatan” holds a distinct edge in strength and physicality over Makhachev. However, he firmly believes that his client’s superior grappling skills are more than enough to neutralize and ultimately overcome that threat.

“He’s just going to take him down and finish him. Submit him,” Abdelaziz said. “It’s the style [match up]. I think Alex Pereira can knock out anyone if he touches you. I think Islam is that good. But it is a fight, and anything could happen. Skill for skill, Islam is one of the most complete fighters we’ve ever seen.”

Makhachev is gearing up for the fourth defense of his 155-pound title, facing former opponent Arman Tsarukyan in the headline bout of UFC 311, set for Jan. 18 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.

The champ is coming off a gritty fifth-round submission victory over Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 in June 2024.

Read More: Islam Makhachev Reveals How He’ll Know When To Retire From MMA: ‘Beterbiev Is 39…’

Former NFL Star Throws Shade at Jamahal Hill Over UFC PI Confrontation with ‘Poatan’

After suffering a brutal first-round knockout against Alex Pereira at UFC 300, former 205-pound titleholder Jamahal Hill wanted to…

After suffering a brutal first-round knockout against Alex Pereira at UFC 300, former 205-pound titleholder Jamahal Hill wanted to run it back with ‘Poatan’ at the UFC Performance Institute.

Ahead of the UFC’s final pay-per-view event of 2024, video footage of Hill trying to start sh*t with Pereira at the PI quickly went viral. In the clip, which you can see below, Hill approached the reigning light heavyweight champion and started talking trash, prompting Pereira to throw a pair of gloves at him and challenge Hill to get inside the cage.

Of course, Hill declined to do so.

Looking back on the incident during a recent reunion with Daniel Cormier, former NFL safety Ryan Clark was quick to remind ‘Sweet Dreams’ what happened the last time he tried to throw hands with the Brazilian boogeyman.

“You know Jamahal Hill acting like he want to throw hands but he don’t really throw hands, cuz the last time he threw hands his hands wasn’t throwing like they were supposed to be, but Alex’s was,” Clark said.

Jamahal Hill faces Jiri Prochazka in his Return to the Octagon at UFC 311

While Jamahal Hill is a former light heavyweight titleholder, the Michigan native only holds one victory over a top-10 opponent. That being Johnny Walker who currently sits in the No. 10 spot in the division.

He’ll look to change that on January 18 when he returns to the Octagon for a clash with ex-champion Jiri Prochazka at UFC 311 in Los Angeles.

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It will be Hill’s first time competing since suffering the quick-fire KO against Pereira in April.