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Magomed Ankalaev Responds to Claims UFC Is 'Praying' for Alex Pereira's Win

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio G Losada | Last updated Mar 8, 2025 7:31 AM ET

UFC lightheavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev is aware of Brendan Schaub’s claim that the UFC is hoping Alex Pereira wins at UFC 313, but he isn’t letting that affect him.

Former UFC fighter Schaub has suggested that the promotion would prefer Pereira to retain his light heavyweight belt, citing potential future blockbuster fights at heavyweight against Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall—matchups that may not materialize if Ankalaev wins Saturday's main event.

“If you don’t think the UFC brass is praying to the MMA Gods that Alex wins this fight, good lord, buddy,” Schaub said on his podcast. “They can’t create a star out of Ankalaev, you just can’t. Alex is your biggest star.”

When asked about the comments, Ankalaev simply acknowledged that a victory for Pereira could lead to bigger opportunities UFC-wide, but he also issued Pereira a warning.

“Yeah, of course, I can understand that if he wins this fight, there’s a lot more opportunities that are opening up for him,” Ankalaev told MMA Fighting. “But it just happened that destiny put the two of us together, and unfortunately, he’s going to have a real tough time to get to that goal because he’s got me in front of him.”

Ankalaev has gone unbeaten in 13 straight fights and last fought for the title since doing so in UFC 282 when he went against then-champion Jan Blachowicz, a fight that ended in a draw.

Since then, Pereira has defended his title three times, finishing Jamahal Hill, Jiri Prochazka, and Khalil Rountree. Despite Pereira’s dominance, Ankalaev believes the Brazilian has yet to face someone with his skill set.

“It’s very different for him because—obviously, he’s a great guy, he’s a great fighter, he’s somebody who’s very strong—but he had specific fighters that he fought,” Ankalaev said. “He fought strikers, he fought people that do not really have much of a ground game.

”I’m a whole different animal.”

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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