Magomed Ankalaev Alex Pereira’s dominant rule at 205 pounds on UFC 313. The Brazilian had defended the title three times in just 175 days, all by interruption against Jamahal Hill, Jiri Prochazka and Khalil Rountree Jr., but Ankalaev turned the script in March and smothered the champion with a ruthless pressure. Although Pereira filled all 12 Takedown attempts, he never found his rhythm and the jury members Ankalaev granted a unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46). With an immediate rematch set for UFC 320 in October, things seem to warm up between the two top dogs.
For almost a week from their rematch, Ankalaev and Pereira came to each other at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas, adding fuel to their heated rivalry. The meeting followed weeks of online back and forth, with Ankalaev promised to send Pereira back to his tire shop and the Brazilian who shot back by calling him a chump.
Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev Treat Hooks via the translator in heated UFC PI exchange
On Thursday, Ankalaev shared a short Instagram stories clip of their face-to-face meeting. The video shows Ankalaev who speaks in Russian in a telephone held by a man, who then translates the message into Pereira in Portuguese. Sitting on a bank, the former champion responded after he had heard Ankalaev, said: “We will fight on October 4 and we no longer have to exchange words.”
Pereira shot back: “I never said anything. He has always spoken. I have never said anything; he has always spoken. And now that we are close by, personally, he is a bastard.”
Magomed Ankalaev ran Alex Pereira against the UFC Pi and it seems that they were in the middle of a heated conversation 😳🍿
🗣️ Magomed: “You just keep throwing words around. Let’s arrange it in the Octagon.”
🗣️ Alex: “I never said anything, they are the ones who are always … pic.twitter.com/soz6bjv9qn
– Championship Rounds (@champrds) September 25, 2025
The clip, about 20 seconds, cut off at that time. Pereira later indicated that a longer version of the meeting would be released on his YouTube channel.
As mentioned, Pereira Ankalaev had already called a chump and accused him of avoiding an earlier run-in at the Pi. After the confrontation, the reigning champion on Twitter explained why he approached Pereira:
“I had my last difficult training today and I am ready to go. I met my opponent today, I confronted him about seeing me in the PI recently, on which he said oh no, it was a girl who told me she saw you, but I didn’t see you.” I will eliminate his electricity next week. “
Read also: TKO COO Mark Shapiro describes the bottleneck that the Netflix negotiations of UFC have killed
Today I had my last difficult training and I am ready to go.
I met my opponent today, I confronted him because he was lying about seeing me in the Pi recently where he said: “Oh no, it was a girl told me she saw you, but I didn’t see you yourself”
I will disable his electricity next week
– Muhammad Big Ankalaev (@ankalaevm) September 25, 2025
After the heated confrontation on the UFC Pi, Ankalaev doubled in an interview, making him clear that he no longer has respect for Pereira and is planning to come for blood at UFC 320.
Magomed Ankalaev -Voerts to close Alex Pereira to UFC 320
Speak with MMA Junkie Via a translator, the Dagestani explained that the situation has escalated much further than simple waste interview and now has exceeded the line in his eyes.
He said, “To be honest, until recently I had respect for him as a hunter and as a person. I no longer respect him because, ok, trash can there is something to get the fight, maybe you say something funny, or to be salt, but if you lie to people and say:” I saw him, and he hid, and so, I said they didn’t respect them? “
“I speak enough English to explain myself. I can say what I want to say, but I don’t think he knows …” 🗣️
Ankalaev explains why he no longer respects Alex Pereira 👀
🎥 @Themaclife pic.twitter.com/S94ilyC8NT
– Red Corner MMA (@redcorner_Mma) September 26, 2025
Ankalaev made it clear that he is not interested in games prior to their light heavyweight Championship Rematch on October 4. He pointed out the contradiction in Pereira’s behavior and noted that the Brazilian had spoken about this a few days ago.
According to him, when they finally crossed paths from the Performance Institute, it was only he and his coach to Pereira and his entire team. Ankalaev said he immediately confronted the Brazilian: “Hey guys. You lied that I was hiding and so on. I’m here now. What are you going to do?”
He explained that Pereira brushed it away by blaming others and saying things like, “Oh, this girl said that, this man said that,” And invent apologies on the spot. The reigning champion added that he has no problem with confrontation, but made it clear that if Pereira tries to get too close next week, he will defend himself. Apart from this, De Dagestani wants to place the rivalry to rest in the cage at UFC 320.
#Magomed #Ankalaev #loses #respect #Alex #Pereira #tense #run #UFC #Performance #Institute #Mmasucka