Magomed Ankalaev responds to ‘liar’ Alex Pereira over ducking accusations

Magomed Ankalaev | Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Magomed Ankalaev faces Aleksandar Rakic just three weeks after Alex Pereira defends his UFC light heavyweight title against Khalil Rountree at UFC 307, and he isn’t happy to see Pereira claim he turned down a shot at gold.

Pereira recently posted a video on his YouTube channel claiming that he expected to face Ankalaev next, but the Russian “didn’t want to fight me.” It didn’t take long for Ankalaev to take to social media to refute the claims and say he was never offered the opportunity.

“@AlexPereiraUFC you are a liar. You said I turned fire down against you @DanaWhite, @MickMaynard2 never offer me a fight against you. I’m gonna make you eat your word after I handle my business.”

@AlexPereiraUFC you are a liar. You said I turned fire down against you. @danawhite @Mickmaynard2 never offer me a fight against you. I’m gonna make you eat your word after I handle my business.

— Magomed Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM) August 26, 2024

Pereira vs. Rountree headlines UFC 307 on Oct. 5 in Salt Lake City, while Ankalaev draws Rakic on Oct. 26 at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi.

In his video, Pereira claimed he “always wanted to fight against Ankalaev” after defending his 205-pound belt with a knockout over Jiri Prochazka at UFC 300, however the one-time title challenger “has made things difficult.”

“I don’t know the reason, if it was the location, if he didn’t want to fight,” Pereira said of Ankalaev. “He isn’t the champion, he can’t pick anything. It’s the opportunity that shows up and he didn’t want it. He has his reasoning, I don’t know what it is. But I came here to tell you I’m not scared of anyone. Everyone knows my history and everything I’ve done, not only in MMA, but in kickboxing as well. It’s obvious that I want to fight this guy.”