Rumored Alex Pereira Fighting in March?; Rogan Says Poatan using Ramadan return date to mess w/ Ankalaev

[don't ask]

How is it a bad look? Like what do you expect Alex to do here?

Considering he's perhaps the most flexible fighter we've ever seen, time-wise, I expect him to pick a time that will let him fight the highest-ranking contender he hasn't fought.

He fought Rountree instead of Ank because Ank already had a fight booked,

That's not true. The Ank fight was booked shortly before Perriera's fight with Rountree was announced and you can't tell me that fight wasn't available to make if Perreira wanted it.

and it had been 4 months since Alex had last fought. He usually fights every 4 months. You wanted him to wait for Ank to have his fight, and then fight him after while doing nothing in between?

Again, that's not what happened.

He wants to fight regularly. He last fought in October. If he waits for Ank, it's not like they're fighting the moment Ramadan ends. Ank is still going to want 2-3 months to prepare.

Yes, which is why I'm criticizing him for picking a fight during Ramadan: he could offer a fight before or well after.

So instead of having an active champ, we should have him wait around because Ank doesn't want to fight because of Ramadan, which has absolutely nothing to do with fighting?

Having an active champ that seems to be ducking someone who presents a grappling threat is less appealing than having him fight once in 2024 and cement his legitimacy as a champion and a mixed martial artist.

We wouldn't even be having this discussion if he fought Ank instead of Rountree, which was perfectly possible considering both fights were made at almost the same time.

 

[MMAFanCal]

Yes, i am saying that.

Whatever helps you sleep better at night. Even if you believe he is not elite, he is fully capable of taking down Poatan at will and maul him. That is a fact no one should deny.

 

[Fergelmince]

We can say whatever we want about who'd win.

There should be ZERO doubt Ankalaev 100% deserves the title shot next.

then he should sign to fight Pereira.

 

[Fergelmince]

Whatever helps you sleep better at night. Even if you believe he is not elite, he is fully capable of taking down Poatan at will and maul him. That is a fact no one should deny.

 

[don't ask]

When should he "pick him" then? how long should he have to wait to satisfy you? he fought in october, you're asking him to wait 7+ months JUST for anakalev.

No I will not acknowledge that fighting during ramadan is a bad look for alex. he last fought october and March and April are reasonable realistic timelines to follow.

Why didn't they just fight last october they both fought in october. Do you think this is Alex's choice, Or does it have to do with the UFC and Magomeds Management?

Also with all this we assume the UFC has champions that are able to headline in march. Do they? If evloev is next for FW title how can illa fight him? (ramadan) Merab, islam, dricus, Belal, Zhang can't even fight at that time as they are all fighting recently or on ramadan. Only Pantoja (huge stretch), Pena and Poatan are avalible during that time. UFC holding jones/aspinall till IFW in july. They have no choices. This is what happens when you have too many champs doing the ramadan thing. Unless they just have no ppvs at all during ramadan and the period after if that's what you'd prefer. the reality is, the UFC NEEDS poatan to defend in march, just like the NEEDED him to save ufc 300, because belal, Khamzat and Islam all said no to fighting Leon supposdedly at ufc 300.

Perreira definitely has the iinfluence in the UFC to fight Ankalaev when he wants and to have fought Ankalaev already. The fact that his fight with Rountree was announced so shortly after Ankalaev's fight was announced shows that the possibility to create a fight was there.

I would rather Perreira cement his legacy as a legit champion and mixed martial artist than to fuck around and continue his career trajectory of what is really starting to look like he's avoiding someone who might threaten him on the ground.

Since Perreira is the most flexible fighter we've seen in a long time (time-wise), it should be no problem at all for him to set up a fight with Ankalaev... if he wanted to, but he doesn't seem to want to.

 

[markg171]

One thing I find interesting about this parroted statement is that no one will name this elite level grappler he hasn't fought LHW and MW didn't have elite level grapplers.

People also completely ignore that of course we have more strikers the higher in weight classes we go as

- more size = more power
- longer limbs = easier to strike from distance
- more weight = harder on cardio and grappling > striking for cardio drain
- the easiest way to nullify grappling skill difference is strength and bigger people = stronger people

Instead of whining about how LHWs like Pereira aren't fighting grapplers people should stop and think for 2 seconds about why there aren't many there to begin with. The heavier weight classes simply cater to strikers due to their body sizes.

And so of course they're not fighting them and of course a supreme striker like Alex is dominating when he's got the best skillset for the division.

 

[MMAFanCal]

Looking at his stats, it certainly doesn't seem that way. Zero sub wins, next to no attempts, 1 takedown every 15 minutes on average, etc.

By the fact that Anklaev had a field day with Jan getting takedowns against him and Jan took Poatan down at will. He shot a takedown in the first minute against Poatan.

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

By the fact that Anklaev had a field day with Jan getting takedowns against him and Jan took Poatan down at will. He shot a takedown in the first minute against Poatan.

Ah, so MMA-math.

 

[Sean Chowdhury]

because ankalaev has no one else to fight, do you want ankalaev to fight in January against an undeserving opponent again? He already fought the #10 ranked guy for no reason and took 2 rounds to beat him, only #1 ranked guy who can fight the #10 opponent and get praised for it, russian ork syndrome this community has

Rakic is #5 ranked and taking 2 rounds to beat someone is a bad thing now? At least he didn't get dropped and nearly lose the fight to him like pereira with khalil

 

[MMAFanCal]

Ah, so MMA-math.

OK then Adesanya was taking Poatan down easily. If that does not speak volumes then not sure what will.

 

[Sean Chowdhury]

Alex haters are fuckin retarded. Guy has stepped up last minute to defend 3 times in 3 months and you think he's scared of this boring ass mfer? Don't call yourself an MMA fan

I don't think he's scared but I don't think he's interested in the ankalaev fight because it's high risk low reward, I'm not a alex hater I just think his dickriding fans are retards

 

[Sean Chowdhury]

You're embarrassing yourself

Are you 13?

Damn my bad for going against this community's darling Pereira, I'm sorry for insulting your boyfriend

 

[Fergelmince]

Rakic is #5 ranked and taking 2 rounds to beat someone is a bad thing now? At least he didn't get dropped and nearly lose the fight to him like pereira with khalil

He didn't fight Rakic in January last year.

 

[xhaydenx]

That's not true. The Ank fight was booked shortly before Perriera's fight with Rountree was announced and you can't tell me that fight wasn't available to make if Perreira wanted it.

Bruz, the UFC said Ank was already booked to fight.

Yes, which is why I'm criticizing him for picking a fight during Ramadan: he could offer a fight before or well after.

What's stopping Alex from fighting in March, which is about right for his usual 4 month break, then fighting Ank 2-3 months after Ramadan? And again, it will be that sort of scheduling. It's not going to be Ramadan for Ank and then immediately he'll want to fight.

Why are you making it out like he isn't still happy to do this? It's not a case of Ank next or Ank never gets a title shot lol.

The reality is that Alex is ready to fight again, and the UFC is ready for him to fight again. Ank is busy with non-fighting related things. That's his choice, of course, but there's no reason for the champ and the UFC to put things on hold for that.

 

[Sean Chowdhury]

He didn't fight Rakic in January last year.

he fought walker in jaunary and knocked him out in like 6 minutes, how is that a bad look? That's definitely not as bad as getting dropped and losing 2 rounds to khalil, the only bad look for ankalaev is a draw with Jan but Jan also took alex to a split and some thought Jan won

 

[Laheys'Liquorland]

Poatan ducking Tom.



Err i mean... Poatan ducking Ank!

Am I doing it right?

 

[Fergelmince]

he fought walker in jaunary and knocked him out in like 6 minutes, how is that a bad look? That's definitely not as bad as getting dropped and losing 2 rounds to khalil, the only bad look for ankalaev is a draw with Jan but Jan also took alex to a split and some thought Jan won

LOL, you're trying to argue how the wins look. A win against Johnny Walker

Pereira has the belt. He IS THE DRAW. HE HAS THE POWER with the UFC behind him because of that. Ankalaev has no one else to fight. If he wants the belt, he needs to agree to fight Pereira. PERIOD. He's hiding behind ramadan.

 

[Pechan]

Alex haters are fuckin retarded. Guy has stepped up last minute to defend 3 times in 3 months and you think he's scared of this boring ass mfer? Don't call yourself an MMA fan

I heard he is terrified of being decisioned.

 

[RockyLockridge]

We wouldn't even be having this discussion if he fought Ank instead of Rountree, which was perfectly possible considering both fights were made at almost the same time.

It's dana and ali that don't want to make the fight.

 

[RockyLockridge]

The reality is that Alex is ready to fight again, and the UFC is ready for him to fight again. Ank is busy with non-fighting related things. That's his choice, of course, but there's no reason for the champ and the UFC to put things on hold for that.

Fans expect the UFC to contort it's entire business and scheduling for a handful of fighters.

Not sure where this entitlement comes from.

If you're ringing for the champ, you gotta answer the phone.