Did Ankalaev actually say he wouldn't fight anywhere but Abu Dhabi?

[don't ask]

All I can find for sure is that Ankalaev turned down a fight against Perreira at UFC 300 and Perreira turned down a fight against Ankalaev in Abu Dhabi. I've just been doing some googling and I can't find any actual news sources saying that Ankalaev refuses to fight outside of Abu Dhabi. Looking at his fight stats, he's fought in the US a ton of times, Europe a few times, Britain once and Abu Dhabi twice.

Is this a real thing that he said/did? Or is this just fight fans being fucking stupid on the internet?

 

[DougieJones]

He said he wanted the fight with Alex to be in Abu Dhabi, that's all

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

IIRC there was this long interview or podcast where he said "The Pereira fight has to happen in Abu Dhabi."

 

[don't ask]

IIRC there was this long interview or podcast where he said "The Pereira fight has to happen in Abu Dhabi."

If you or anyone else can let me know where to find this interview, I'd love to see it. On twitter, he's saying he'll fight anywhere.

 

[TheBulge]

He said he wanted the fight with Alex to be in Abu Dhabi, that's all

IIRC there was this long interview or podcast where he said "The Pereira fight has to happen in Abu Dhabi."

He deserved to get passed over just for that stupid comment.

 

[Captain Insano]

Didn't he have the offer for ufc 300?

Should have taken it.

 

[blaseblase]

IIRC there was this long interview or podcast where he said "The Pereira fight has to happen in Abu Dhabi."

This didn't happen.

 

[podsox]

He said he wanted the fight with Alex to be in Abu Dhabi, that's all

I don’t get why any champion would go defend their title in a challengers backyard

 

[Dobymick]

He posted a tweet not too long ago saying he would fight Alex "anywhere. But he also blew his shot turning down 300 and insisted into trick Alex to fight in Abu Dhabi instead

Anyway, talk is cheap. Doesn't mean much

 

[HHJ]

I don’t get why any champion would go defend their title in a challengers backyard

Who says they have a choice?

Poatan only gonna fight in Brazil ? or is he gonna fight whenever they need him because MONEY?

There is big money going to fight in someones backyard just like as if you were the A side

 

[DougieJones]

This didn't happen.

yeah it was just a tweet he posted. people blew the comment way out of proportion

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

This didn't happen.

Hence the IIRC.

 

[don't ask]

Hence the IIRC.

haha excellent use of the innocent emoji

 

[Lord Pyjamas]

Who says they have a choice?

Poatan only gonna fight in Brazil ? or is he gonna fight whenever they need him because MONEY?

There is big money going to fight in someones backyard just like as if you were the A side

It is Prize fighting after all!
Confident fighters can get a lot of $ for strengthening their organizations monetary gains.

 

[Squintz]

If you or anyone else can let me know where to find this interview, I'd love to see it. On twitter, he's saying he'll fight anywhere.

How the fuck you gonna say some bullshit like that after turning down 300. lol Ank a clown for real

 

[Johnnny]

IIRC there was this long interview or podcast where he said "The Pereira fight has to happen in Abu Dhabi."

 

[Lord Pyjamas]

Why wouldn't he wish for that?
If he won it would make him a home turf superstar!
vs another Dagestani in need of a new look TV show winning in Brazil!
While home turf goes "yeah that is what we do, now back to whatever the fuck we do on our phones".

 

[swizztony]

Even in this interview he literally just said he has no visa issues and is fine with it being in the US. It’s crazy how much people lie about what Ankalaev said without proof.

He turned down 300 because of Ramadan, but other than that he’s said on multiple occasions he’s cool with fighting outside of Abu Dhabi. Not once has he said he’d only fight in Abu Dhabi

 

[maximus__]

All I can find for sure is that Ankalaev turned down a fight against Perreira at UFC 300 and Perreira turned down a fight against Ankalaev in Abu Dhabi. I've just been doing some googling and I can't find any actual news sources saying that Ankalaev refuses to fight outside of Abu Dhabi. Looking at his fight stats, he's fought in the US a ton of times, Europe a few times, Britain once and Abu Dhabi twice.

Is this a real thing that he said/did? Or is this just fight fans being fucking stupid on the internet?

Do you think that the UFC didn't potentially offer him the Alex fight prior to Alex vs Rountree getting made?
Alex vs Rountree is another fight to save a shit card, one week before the Abu dhabi card which is stacked in comparison.
Alex originally was out for a few months, but is being pulled in to save another card after clearing up his toe injury.

Alex was talking about fighting on 305, my guess is Ank said no to shorter notice, got booked vs rakic for a later fight (in his preferred Abu dhabi) and now Alex is jumping in again to help out the UFC.
He shouldn't fight in Abu dhabi, it's not his fault Ank had to fight Johnny walker 2x and hasn't fought since January. The fight has been offerred and he has said no.
Khalil is jumping the line a bit, but my guess is he is the only fresh match up on a win streak that said yes to Salt Lake City.

 

[blaseblase]

yeah it was just a tweet he posted. people blew the comment way out of proportion

Yep, he made a tweet challenging Pereira to the Abu Dhabi card and then people ran with the narrative that he wasn't willing to fight anywhere else. There's no evidence that's the case . He just fought Johnny Walker in Vegas.