Media Magomed Ankalaev Vows to destroy Alex Pereira at UFC 313!

[Luffy]

He's not gonna need to - the downside to Poatan's leg kick game is it needs to be orthodox vs orthodox matchups, vs the southpaw Khalil there were very little leg kicks.

But that's also the other thing is that it really looked like Alex learned a lot about fighting southpaws in MMA in that Khalil matchup. He switched his calf kick to a teep, and switched his hook to a jab and started landing tons more in round 3 and subsequently the brutal round 4 barrage he put on Khalil.

Don't forget Khalil is a seasoned Muay Thai fighter... In terms of striking, he's one of the best there in UFC. He's a better striker than Anakalaev for sure as far as we have seen. So he has experience in blocking leg kicks, he was a Muay Thai based fighter. Even still, Poatan landed a lotmof leg kicks that were making Khalil's movements more and more stiff...

So Poatan fought one of the best strikers in UFC who's a southpaw and still KO'd him in a dominant fashion, all while having a broken rib going into that fight. Khalil was already talking about a fight against Alex Pereira ever since Alex Pereira was making his move to 205. Heck, he had said that time that Alex Pereira interests him a lot as he has watched many of his fights in Glory and that it'd be a dream match up... And he said him and his team had a very long preparation and analysis, break down of Poatan... Poatan admittedly said he didn't watch too many of Khalil's matches, he said he had watched 3 together with his team, knew he was dangerous and studied those matches to be prepared for some things, but that he doesn't like over watching the fighters to not get too stuck up in what the fighter may do and so.

Poatan was in a 3 fight row in the year, Khalil had the biggest chance of his career yet, against someone he said he was watching since Glory and who was a dream match up to him... And Khalil as far as stand up fight goes, is elite... So if Alex Poatan could do so well and end up winning in such a devastating way vs a striker of that caliber who's southpaw, then it won't be that much of an issue vs another southpaw who isn't as good as Khalil as far as striking goes, which is just the truth...

 

[Portland8242]

Don't forget Khalil is a seasoned Muay Thai fighter... In terms of striking, he's one of the best there in UFC. He's a better striker than Anakalaev for sure as far as we have seen. So he has experience in blocking leg kicks, he was a Muay Thai based fighter. Even still, Poatan landed a lotmof leg kicks that were making Khalil's movements more and more stiff...

So Poatan fought one of the best strikers in UFC who's a southpaw and still KO'd him in a dominant fashion, all while having a broken rib going into that fight. Khalil was already talking about a fight against Alex Pereira ever since Alex Pereira was making his move to 205. Heck, he had said that time that Alex Pereira interests him a lot as he has watched many of his fights in Glory and that it'd be a dream match up... And he said him and his team had a very long preparation and analysis, break down of Poatan... Poatan admittedly said he didn't watch too many of Khalil's matches, he said he had watched 3 together with his team, knew he was dangerous and studied those matches to be prepared for some things, but that he doesn't like over watching the fighters to not get too stuck up in what the fighter may do and so.

Poatan was in a 3 fight row in the year, Khalil had the biggest chance of his career yet, against someone he said he was watching since Glory and who was a dream match up to him... And Khalil as far as stand up fight goes, is elite... So if Alex Poatan could do so well and end up winning in such a devastating way vs a striker of that caliber who's southpaw, then it won't be that much of an issue vs another southpaw who isn't as good as Khalil as far as striking goes, which is just the truth...

I can agree with your premise but I feel it still takes a bit too much away from Khalil. He fought a super smart and effective fight against Poatan before Poatan made the necessary adjustments.

My opinion on Alex vs Ank was sort of that Ank's striking may be a bit problematic before but after the Khalil fight I think Alex has a lot better ideas of how to approach southpaw fights now, which is making me lean Alex in the upcoming fight.

Ank seems like a hard headed not too intelligent guy, I don't foresee him trying grappling (atleast before it's too late).

 

[Edward Henry Berg]

He's not gonna need to - the downside to Poatan's leg kick game is it needs to be orthodox vs orthodox matchups, vs the southpaw Khalil there were very little leg kicks.

But that's also the other thing is that it really looked like Alex learned a lot about fighting southpaws in MMA in that Khalil matchup. He switched his calf kick to a teep, and switched his hook to a jab and started landing tons more in round 3 and subsequently the brutal round 4 barrage he put on Khalil.

Not to mention, Alex also faced the southpaw, Jamahal Hill, before that — and utterly decimated his calfs, jabbed him to the body to set up the hook, and performed a literal clinic on how to decimate a southpaw, almost without getting touched in return.

This idea that Pereira "can't deal with southpaws" is daft AF.

Pereira actually decimates southpaws as easy (or easier than) he decimates orthodox fighters.

Go ahead and review and realize that southpaw, Jamahal Hill, was Alex' easiest opponent, in any discipline / division, and by a country mile.

The fact Ankalaev is a southpaw means fuckall to Pereira.

.

 

[Portland8242]

Not to mention, Alex also faced the southpaw, Jamahal Hill, before that — and utterly decimated his calfs, jabbed him to the body to set up the hook, and performed a literal clinic on how to decimate a southpaw, almost without getting touched in return.

This idea that Pereira "can't deal with southpaws" is daft AF.

Pereira actually decimates southpaws as easy (or easier than) he decimates orthodox fighters.

Go ahead and review and realize that southpaw, Jamahal Hill, was Alex' easiest opponent, in any discipline / division, and by a country mile.

The fact Ankalaev is a southpaw means fuckall to Pereira.

.

Personally I don't rate Jamahal that high as a fighter in general but yes this is true.

But I still say fighting him orthodox is still worse case scenario, he's brutally effective at tearing up his opponent's lead legs with his unique calf kick technique.

 

[ChangeIsComing]

Either his wrestling is OK enough and he stalls out to a zzz decision or he gets knocked out brutally In no scenario is he destroying Poatan -.-

I disagree, big Poatan fan here but he is not the most durable and he is hittable. If Ankalev can force Alex to fight moving backward then he has a great shot at a KO/TKO, this wont be as hard as many think if he can land a TD or two.

I still favor Alex to win but Ank has a few paths to a W.

 

[Luffy]

I can agree with your premise but I feel it still takes a bit too much away from Khalil. He fought a super smart and effective fight against Poatan before Poatan made the necessary adjustments.

My opinion on Alex vs Ank was sort of that Ank's striking may be a bit problematic before but after the Khalil fight I think Alex has a lot better ideas of how to approach southpaw fights now, which is making me lean Alex in the upcoming fight.

Ank seems like a hard headed not too intelligent guy, I don't foresee him trying grappling (atleast before it's too late).

Nah, I think he'll try to mix it, he knows Alex is the best striker the UFC has had, he is likely teasing to see the reactions. He'll mix it up. But I don't think he can easily take Poatan down, or if he even can. I think he can take him down, but it'd be hard and he wouldn't do much on the ground until the bell rung. Ok, he outwrestled Jan who took Poatan down, but Poatan has been clearly training grappling more and more and advancing. In the first fight vs Jiri, Jiri took him down and he got up in the same round, which was already a big improvement from being outwrestled by Izzy. Then, in the second match, Prochazka tried to take Poatan down, but he couldn't even get close to it, and Alex after a minute with Jiri trying to even get to his legs, separated him with a judo throw. Not to mention, Alex Poatan uses his quick striking to make it harder for the opponent to get a takedown attempt and is getting better. Glover himself said he is totally confident no fighter will take Alex Poatan down by saying he sees Poatan's takedown defense and grappling as better than his was, already, emphasizing that Poatan is a different kind of talent... And he's been training MMA in its entirety with grappling for 7 years now... If Reyes could stop Jon Jones' takedowns mostly, then Alex Poatan can do the same...

Alex Poatan is a quick learner, showed big improvements by not even getting close to be taken down by Jiri Prochazka (who is not a bad ground fighter at all... Not a wrestler, but he has trained a long time with Chimaev and has trained wrestling for a long time), and he's strong, and has a very good stamina to the point it's baffling how he is 37 years old, his cardio is something else... Ankalaev will bring everything, but I just see Poatan kinda defeating him in a dominant fashion... Like, I don't think he will make it a harder fight than Khalil did or Jiri Prochazka 1 did.... Maybe something like vs Jiri Prochazka 1, but I think Poatan will dominate. But well, let's see.

 

[Edward Henry Berg]

Personally I don't rate Jamahal that high as a fighter in general but yes this is true.

But I still say fighting him orthodox is still worse case scenario, he's brutally effective at tearing up his opponent's lead legs with his unique calf kick technique.

Your "rating" doesn't matter; it's Alex' success against "southpaw fighters' that matters.

The decimated Hill's calves / body, same as he does orthodox fighters.

The other thing you're not even fathoming is the fact, "traditionally," when an Orthodox fighter faces a Southpaw fighter, the Orthodox fighter is instructed to keep his lead left foot outside the Southpaw's lead right foot ... and "circle away" from the Southpaw's power-left.

Because Pereira has more power, in BOTH hands, then Ankalaev ever dreamed of ... Alex will be positioning his feet, as above, but he will be circling into Ankalaev ... with the idea to knock Magomed into next week.

Alex will have the experience advantage, the reach advantage, the power advantage, and the tactical advantage — and, as such, Magomed Ankalaev will be yet another KO victim for Alex Pereira.

Ankalaev's goat-fucking ego will count for nothing, while Alex Pereira's actual knowledge, having "forgotten more" than Ankalaev will ever know about striking, while having more power and skill than Ankalaev in striking, will make Magomed yet another blowhard who wrote a check against Alex that his dumb ass couldn't cash.

Can't wait to see this

 

[Last Falconry]

really hope this guy just tries to fight Alex like he did Cutelaba. see how that works out for you, pal

 

[moreorless87]

Not to mention, Alex also faced the southpaw, Jamahal Hill, before that — and utterly decimated his calfs, jabbed him to the body to set up the hook, and performed a literal clinic on how to decimate a southpaw, almost without getting touched in return.

This idea that Pereira "can't deal with southpaws" is daft AF.

Pereira actually decimates southpaws as easy (or easier than) he decimates orthodox fighters.

Go ahead and review and realize that southpaw, Jamahal Hill, was Alex' easiest opponent, in any discipline / division, and by a country mile.

The fact Ankalaev is a southpaw means fuckall to Pereira.
.

I wouldn't overlook Alex's bodykick either, its not got a finish yet but I think its quite underrated and Mirko of course showed us how effective it can be fighting the opposite stance.

I feel like the biggest factor in that fight wasnt stance though it was simply Rowntree whilst a bit flakey perhaps is a really fast powerful puncher, arguebly faster than anyone Alex has fought at LHW and he needed to give him respect keeping his distance more than he normally does.

The ironic thing is I think Ank actually fights in a style not a million miles away from Alex, he loves to stalk, throws plenty of lowkicks and the odd counter. Often that can be a big matchup IMHO, facing someone who fights like you do but better.

Rowntree did I thin also show us Alex isnt just limited to that stalking style, he could turn it up when he needed to, bounce in and out much more and land with high volume rather than just looking for the one killer shot.

There two big boys and Alex is not unhittable so anything can happen BUT I tend to think Ank is going to need to time some takedowns(not just hustle against the cage which Alex seems to be well versed in dealing with now) well to win this or pull out a hail mary sub.

 

[Hymen Crusher]

If ank decides to take him down he will. He took Jan down in 2 rounds on a destroyed leg. Jan is a better wrestler then Alex . I hope it's not a snoozer but he can make it that way and win. Ank is way bigger then Khalil, he is a midget by mw standards lw is a joke. I hope Alex wins but ank should probably be the favorite.

 

[Edward Henry Berg]

I wouldn't overlook Alex's bodykick either, its not got a finish yet but I thin its quite underated and Mirko of course showed us how effective it can be fighting the opposite stance.

Honestly I think the Rowntree fight was a positive in that it showed Alex could fight more than one way, he doesnt need to stallk and counter to win he can also turn it on, skip in and out and really go to town on someone rather than needing one big strike.

Thoughtful analysis.

People also forget that (despite all the "short-notice" fights Alex has taken, with NO ISSUE), against Rountree, Alex came close to canceling, BECAUSE he had a broken toe and had the flu ...

Against Rountree, Alex could be seen coughing and hacking, between rounds, so Alex' difficulty with Rountree was not just Rountree being "a southpaw"; it was due to the multi-faceted fact that

1) Rountree was fighting for the opportunity of a lifetime;
2) Rountree is dangerous, and Alex specifically toned himself down, for the early rounds;
3) Alex took the fight short notice, injured, and systemically ill — and yet still prevailed.

People who hate Alex point to the Rowntree fight as "bad," but they're basically too stupid to factor-in the intangibles.

 

[Bradillac]

Sure he will… he won’t be able to walk after the first round.

 

[Bradillac]

If ank decides to take him down he will. He took Jan down in 2 rounds on a destroyed leg. Jan is a better wrestler then Alex . I hope it's not a snoozer but he can make it that way and win. Ank is way bigger then Khalil, he is a midget by mw standards lw is a joke. I hope Alex wins but ank should probably be the favorite.

Doesn’t Jan notoriously have pretty bad TDD?

 

[humdizzle]

the only positive i can say about Ank is that Alex's previous opponents have been MWs or just low level guys

- Hill was like #8 when he fought old man glover and hasn't won a fight since
- Rountree was low level as well.
- Jiri is a middle weight who doesn't cut
- Jan B was a true LHW, but old and still nearly won. Had a draw against Ank.

 

[Hymen Crusher]

Doesn’t Jan notoriously have pretty bad TDD?

I don't think he is world class or anything but I would bet it's better then Alex.

 

[NoSmilez]

This is completely random but every time I see Ank. I just randomly think of these words from this cartoon.

 

[Bobble Head]

Man, if Ank destroys Alex.. I think the last time I would have been this disappointed is when Rampage came over and took Chuck’s belt in under 2 minutes. That was a tease because I remember after Rampage looked so so against The Beastman Eastman, I was thinking “yeah, I think Chuck might have this rematch after that, Rampage isn’t the same killer.” Nope. My reaction wasn’t as bad as my brothers reaction though. He threw a beer at the big screen tv.

Anyways, Poaton by KO at the opening bell. Let’s go!

 

[MrBlackheart]

Either his wrestling is OK enough and he stalls out to a zzz decision or he gets knocked out brutally In no scenario is he destroying Poatan -.-

This chick has the most epic resting bitch face.

 

[Kevster]

the only positive i can say about Ank is that Alex's previous opponents have been MWs or just low level guys

- Hill was like #8 when he fought old man glover and hasn't won a fight since
- Rountree was low level as well.
- Jiri is a middle weight who doesn't cut
- Jan B was a true LHW, but old and still nearly won. Had a draw against Ank.

Can apply similar logic to Anks opposition tbf, all those guys except Rountree are ranked above Rakic who was on a 2 fight skid when Ank beat him.

One of those a stoppage against MW that doesn’t cut weight Jiri.

Low level Johnny Walker (needed two attempts)

Low level Anthony Smith.

 

[jjjjjjjjjjohnny]

i watched him in the main event against jans and it was horrific. i hope poatan decimates him in Round 1.