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Magomed Ankalaev Nicknames: Meaning & True Reason Behind Changing His Monikers ‘Hackaliev’ and ‘Big Ank’

Originally posted on EssentiallySports | By Sudeep Sinha | Last updated Oct 3, 2025 12:36 AM ET

Fighters are no strangers to nicknames. While some have nicknames that can strike fear, others fail to have the same aura. Take Wanderlei Silva, for example, ‘The Axe Murderer’ certainly tells you what to expect from the fighter. Whereas Frank Trigg’s ‘Twinkle Toes’ might be witty, but it doesn’t say ‘I will come to beat the daylight out of you.’ But this is not about them, it’s about Magomed Ankalaev!

The 33-year-old Russian is scheduled to lock horns with rival Alex Pereira on October 4 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in UFC 320. However, ahead of the much-anticipated rematch between the fighters, Ankalaev appears to have given himself a new nickname, ‘Hackaliev.’ But the question is, what does it mean?

Magomed Ankalaev gives himself a new nickname

For the longest time, Magomed Ankalaev was called ‘Big Ank,’ which is a reference to his large size and style of fighting. Most people knew him with this moniker and had grown used to it. However, things changed after the 33-year-old Russian champion defeated Pereira in March at UFC 313. Fast forward to May, ‘Potan’ posted a cryptic tweet on X hinting at retirement.

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He claimed that he was frustrated with the UFC over not getting an immediate rematch and accused the promotion of miscommunication. However, the tweet was soon deleted, and he later claimed that his account was hacked. Ankalaev responded with mockery on social media, jokingly taking credit for the “hack” as a “second victory” over Pereira.

“It was me, I hacked his account,” followed by, “The only thing was hacked [is] Alex’s brain. He’s not a champion anymore. I’m waiting for you. Don’t worry.” Amid all this, he even gave himself the new nickname, writing, “They call me Big Ank, now they call me Hackaliev.” Regardless, Ankalaev isn’t the only one with a nickname.

Why is Alex Pereira called ‘Potan’?

While Akalaev may have gotten his new nickname by trolling Pereira, the latter’s nickname is much more meaningful. ‘Potan,’ as he is known to his fans around the globe, is deeply tied to both his fighting style and his indigenous roots. The name itself comes from the Tupi language, which is spoken in Brazil by indigenous people.

It’s made of two parts: ‘Po’, meaning hand, and ‘Atan’, meaning stone or something solid. Simply, it translates to ‘Stone Hands’ or ‘Hands of Stone.’ The best part is, it perfectly describes Pereira’s devastating knockout power. The moniker was given to him by his first kickboxing trainer, Belocqua Wera. The trainer recognized Pereira’s natural ability to hit with incredible force.

Pereira is so attuned with the nickname that he even tattooed a few stones on his left hand—the very weapon that has delivered him multiple spectacular KO victories.

That being said, nicknames may not play a big role in the upcoming fight between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev. But rest assured, it has definitely helped build anticipation between the two fighters. What do you think about their nicknames?

This article first appeared on EssentiallySports and was syndicated with permission.

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