Jiri Prochazka vs Ankalaev — how does this go?

[Luffy]

Lol Ankalaev wasn't even calling for a title when Jan, Glover and Jiri were champions. When Poatan appeared there, suddenly Ank got a personality and started mentioning Alex. Before he was even like "how many more wins until I get the belt" lolol

Honestly though, all those fighters, Jiri, Khalil Rountree, Jan Blackowski with the polish power... They were nightmares. I think Alex Pereira and Ankalaev are just some steps ahead in this era of monsters from LHW. Ppl look it as a weak era, but to me that's more a past era bias. These fighters are all mma elite level of current LHW. I think Alex vs Ank might be a 5 rounds again of what ppl would consider boring, but that's because they're so technical they know each wrong positioning, the other can shut their lights out. So they don't overcommit, they pick their shots wisely. Sometimes a fight between the best of the current era might look like a boring fight much like watching Mayweather vs Pacquiao felt boring for many. They're very elite in defense striking, reading patterns, and even grappling... Pereira nullified the grappling pretty much so Ank won 4th round basically by area control, no high impact.

Like Topuria said, some fans think elite fights are guys swinging and blasting each other recklessly when elite fighters are methodical and if faced vs very good fighters but with clear gaps, then the elite fighter end up dominating.

 

[Luffy]

That's why Jones left. Cos Ank was downloading data.

Don't forget he's a hacker too. He hacked Pereira's account to build a fight. He even said his nickname was Hachalaev lol

 

[HHJ]

Lol Ankalaev wasn't even calling for a title when Jan, Glover and Jiri were champions. When Poatan appeared there, suddenly Ank got a personality and started mentioning Alex. Before he was even like "how many more wins until I get the belt" lolol

Well it just turned out that way. After the draw with Jan, in his mind, he should get another title shot soon and Poatan was holdin that shit.

The belt is a great motivator.

The first shot was given cos they didnt have much choice but the second one, he had to try like hell to earn that shit

 

[Luffy]

Well it just turned out that way. After the draw with Jan, in his mind, he should get another title shot soon and Poatan was holdin that shit.

The belt is a great motivator.

The first shot was given cos they didnt have much choice but the second one, he had to try like hell to earn that shit

He didn't campaign for that though until Poatan showed up. He firstly said "I don't even know if I'm going fight for the UFC anymore" —> after the Jan controversial draw. He then started to call for the title openly when Pereira defeated Jiri and Jamahal Hill at 300. Then he went on media saying he wants to face Pereira, he was on a limbo before that. And even with the belt, he still pressured for a rematch instead of Pereira going HW, with his manager going on media saying " Alex wants easy time at HW because he knows the toughest fight is Ankalaev", which Ank also said the same. Heck Alex also said his toughest opponent among all is likely Ankalaev.

They both are similar in the sense of being stoic, risk free and very skilled. Ankalaev is more interested in fighting Alex than anything because, imo, he is the type to not fear, as he's calling for the most dangerous fighter... Much like Alex Pereira, he's stoic and wants to face whoever he considers the best fighter. That's why he keeps mentioning Alex even after having the belt imo — he sees Pereira as one of the few fighters who may be perhaps bigger than belts to him. (a thing Gus said about JJ). Otherwise, he wouldn't call for a rematch as soon as after the first fight, even joking about hacking Pereira's account to build a fight with Alex (tho weirdly he said Alex was retired and had some angry tweets after May lol)... If he called Alex Pereira again knowing it was his toughest opponent, he is the type to be like if Islam Makhachev actively called for Illia Topuria instead of moving up.

The draw vs Jan was an odd decision though... That was a clear 48-46 for Ank IMO. The odds even had it -250 for Ankalaev post fight (pre decision). That reflects a dominant win. Vs Pereira, he had his toughest fight, a very close 48-47. The odds post fight, pre decision, had it -125 vs +100 meaning... "Likely Ankalaev by a close 3-2 but could go either way"... I.e a slight edge... Which I see reverting back now to another close 3-2 but now, for Alex Pereira... With me seeing the round 5 performances —> Pereira winning in a close but clear round, by pressuring Ank into the back foot and landing the better strikes once realizing he could stop Ankalaev's TDs. I think R5 is a good blueprint for the rematch, in the sense that I see it as another 5 rounds close ~ 52/48 decision win with Alex slightly better.

I think Jiri is too open in his strikes for someone like Ank. Ankalaev hits harder than Rakic, his striking is better, he's tougher too — he's tougher than Jiri most likely... He's just someone who has a huge toughness that is JJ's chin level, + better grappling than Jiri, whom I expect to be taken down (I see Pereira as a better grappler than Jiri by now). I root for Jiri Prochazka ofc but I'd expect a ~ round 3, round 4 TKO by Ankalaev. Wouldn't be surprised if Jiri won tho, Jiri is a wild card and I can never count him out.

 

[d'Coda]

Pereira won't fight jon jones after a loss you idiot. He is already apointed to fight Ank. And "poatan"will lose again

I think Alex KOs him in the rematch.

 

[MMAFanCal]

Big Ank via KO/TKO round 2.

 

[markantony20]

RIP Luffy and his undying love of Alex Pereira.

 

[jjjjjjjjjjohnny]

jiri takes it.