THE UFC’s most active and prolific champion, Alex Pereira, returns this weekend aiming to make the fourth defence of his light-heavyweight crown in 11 months.

It has taken just three years and three months for the Brazilian known as ‘Poatan’ (hand of stone) to conquer two weight classes.

In just 10 Octagon appearances; he’s registered nine wins, including seven knockouts, in six championship fights.

He’s also beaten five former UFC champions too, knocking out four of them. Yet many maintain this weekend’s title challenger is his toughest yet.

DAGESTAN DANGERMAN

Magomed Ankalaev has suffered just one loss in 22 pro fights since turning pro in 2014.

The 32-year-old is from the most notorious region in fight sport; Dagestan, Russia, is on a 13-fight unbeaten streak and arguably should already have been crowned UFC champion.

Back in December 2022, Ankalaev battled Jan Blachowicz for five rounds for the vacant belt, but the judge’s failed to separate them, eventually recording a controversial split draw.

It’s taken the 32-year-old more than two years to get back into title contention and he believes he has the rounded skillset required to unpick the champion.

ALEX THE GREAT

As impressive as Pereira’s UFC campaign has been it’s not without question.

All six of his UFC title fights across two weight divisions have been against primarily strikers.

Three of his championship opponents possess zero career submissions, whilst Jiri Prochazka chose to park his ground game and stand and bang with Alex in both their fights.

The last man to grapple with Pereira was Blachowicz, six months removed from his draw with Ankalaev, and he went the distance before losing on a split decision.

There is a reason why heavyweight champion Jon Jones is also pushing to fight Pereira this summer rather than face off against interim champion Tom Aspinall.

Alex is relatively new to MMA and possesses undeveloped grappling skills.

ROUTE TO VICTORY

However, despite his Dagestan heritage and the fact he won amateur MMA World Championship gold even before he turned pro, Ankalaev is not a notorious ground fighter either.

After breaking his hand against Blachowicz, he did switch it up and focus on a more grappling heavy approach in their fight. But he’s not a serious submission threat.

Ankalaev’s 19-1-1 record features 10 knockouts with zero submissions.

Like the rest of the top contenders at 205lb, he’s primarily a striker – just not on the same level as Perieria, who was a Glory kickboxing global star before he switched to MMA.

Ankalaev must utilise his striking to close the distance and get hold of Pereira. Trip or drag him to the canvas and make the champion work back to his feet off his back, especially in the early rounds.

Too many opponents have already tried to out-strike Poatan and fall dramatically short. And I’ve seen nothing in Ankalaev’s striking game to suggest he comes armed with the equaliser.

Periera may now be 37, but his faster, hits harder and has a much higher striking fight IQ than, well, everybody else in the division.

If Ankalaev can make this a grappling match I give him a chance to cause an upset on the scorecards.

But every round starts standing and getting in on Pereira’s hips to try and manoeuvre him down to the canvas is a gameplan fraught with peril.

TIP: Pereira by TKO, Round 3 – 19/2

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