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Alex Pereira predicted to lose to Magomed Ankalaev due to the same issue some say caused Conor McGregor decline

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow | By Harvey Leonard | Last updated Aug 22, 2025 3:46 PM ET

One UFC Shanghai headliner expects Alex Pereira to lose a second straight fight against Magomed Ankalaev.

Pereira had his light heavyweight reign ended in disappointing fashion this past March, when he headlined the UFC 313 pay-per-view in Las Vegas against Ankalaev.

After the Brazilian reeled off three successful defenses in violent fashion, Ankalaev defeated Pereira across five rounds to begin a new era at 205 pounds.

An immediate rematch appeared more than likely, and despite a brief period of uncertainty, that is finally on the calendar. Ankalaev vs Pereira 2 will headline UFC 320 on October 4, closing out a card that also includes Merab Dvalishvili’s next title defense.

For Pereira, the bout offers the chance to add regaining a belt to his UFC résumé, which had two-division glory written onto it in record time just two years after his debut. That success, however, has brought with it something that could cost ‘Poatan’, according to one fellow contender.

This fight card can't come soon enough UFC 320! pic.twitter.com/sJwmUvRvn6
— UFC (@ufc) August 17, 2025

Zhang Mingyang says Alex Pereira is ‘too rich’ to beat Magomed Ankalaev

Among those looking to follow in Pereira’s footsteps by KOing his way to light heavyweight glory is Zhang Mingyang.

And ahead of his biggest fight to date in Shanghai, ‘Mountain Tiger’ made a grim assessment of Pereira’s chances in the Ankalaev rematch at UFC 320.

“I think Ankalaev can defend his title because I think Alex Pereira is not as motivated as before,” Zhang told MMA Fighting.

“I mean, if we can get the old Pereira back, he’s still the, let’s say, better striker than Ankalaev. But for now, if he still fights like the way like he fought last fight, I think Ankalaev can still win this fight.

“He has earned too much money,” Zhang added, regarding Pereira. “He’s too rich. I think no matter who you are as a fighter, or as a human being, if you are too rich, you are just kind of (lacking) of motivation (compared to) when you are young, when you are poor, when you are hungry.”

A struggle for motivation due to immense wealth accumulated from fighting has been widely pointed to as the reason behind Conor McGregor’s MMA decline.

The Irishman has won just a single fight in the nine years since he defeated Eddie Alvarez to become the UFC’s first-ever simultaneous two-division champion.

Zhang Mingyang could move closer to the title at UFC Shanghai

Zhang will no doubt have a close eye on his division’s next title fight, especially if he can get the job done this Saturday.

After Zhang brutally finished Anthony Smith in the American’s retirement fight, making it 19 first-round finishes in 19 wins, the Chinese star will look to make another ranked contender his latest victim on home soil.

‘Mountain Tiger’ will compete on home soil for the second time in the Octagon, with Zhang headlining UFC Shanghai against Johnny Walker on August 23.

A win would move Zhang to a 4-0 record in the promotion and further advance his hopes of challenging either Ankalaev or Pereira down the line.

This article first appeared on Bloody Elbow and was syndicated with permission.

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