Magomed Ankalaev isn’t identified for his trash speak however he had loads to say when addressing Alex Pereira on Thursday in the course of the UFC 313 pre-fight press convention.
The normally soft-spoken Russian was virtually uncharacteristically vocal on stage whereas coping with a raucous crowd that was principally backing his opponent. None of it appeared to trouble Ankalaev a lot as he smiled by means of the boos and vowed to alter the chants by the point Saturday evening’s principal occasion is over.
“I’d wish to say that I see on this battle everyone seems to be in opposition to me,” Ankalaev stated. “Everyone seems to be saying ‘Chama! Chama! Chama!’ However guess what? Chama time is over. After this Saturday evening, after the battle, you’ll all love me.
“The identical folks which might be saying Chama now are going to be saying No Chama! It’s Ankalaev time.”
After all, ‘Chama’ is a phrase that Pereira has made well-known throughout his beautiful run by means of the UFC the place he’s been a two-division champion with three title defenses already below his belt within the mild heavyweight division.
However regardless of his dominance, Pereira is barely favored to win in his newest battle with many believing he’s going through his largest impediment but in Ankalaev.
With a 19-1 document with one no contest together with 10 knockouts and a background in fight sambo, Ankalaev seemingly has the dimensions and energy to provide Pereira issues irrespective of the place this battle goes. That’s one of many explanation why he’s been championed because the true No. 1 contender within the division for fairly a while after he got here up quick in his earlier bid at turning into champion following a cut up draw with Jan Blachowicz again in 2022.
That setback compelled Ankalaev to work a bit tougher to get again to a different title shot and he believes Pereira ought to be thankful for that reality.
“I wasn’t upset concerning the final Magomed Ankalaev: Alex Pereira ‘ought to say thanks to Dana White for safeguarding him … Chama time is over!’ battle,” Ankalaev stated. “I’ve no person accountable, it’s simply myself. We noticed the battle. The entire world noticed the battle nevertheless it occurred the best way it occurred. Now it’s a complete totally different ballgame. It’s a special battle, it’s a special opponent.
“You understand what? Truthfully, [Pereira] ought to say thanks to Dana White for safeguarding him this entire time. Now it’s going to be a complete totally different factor.”
Whereas the partisan crowd hardly ever quieted down a lot to permit Ankalaev to talk, he did get a number of questions from the Russian media assembled — together with one query about beating Pereira so dangerous that he’s compelled to surrender his battle profession and return to his previous job working at a tire store in Brazil.
Ankalaev couldn’t assist however snort at that one earlier than responding.
“We’re planning on completely dominating him on Saturday,” Ankalaev stated. “We’re going to guarantee that Chama has no probabilities on Saturday. Whether or not or not he stays within the sport or decides to return to the tire store, that’s going to be as much as him. He’s going to be the one which has to make that call.”
For all of the methods Ankalaev expects to win and stroll out of UFC 313 as champion, he’s not even considering what comes subsequent till he will get by means of Pereira.
As a result of Pereira has been such a dominant champion, he might doubtlessly warrant a right away rematch irrespective of how the battle performs out however Ankalaev prefers getting the job accomplished first earlier than he begins excited about that.
“For now we’re not concentrating on what’s going to occur afterwards,” Ankalaev stated. “Proper now, we’ve acquired a battle in entrance of us. Let’s go on the market, let’s win after which afterwards we’ll take into consideration who’s going to get the rematch or what.”
