Magomed Ankalaev could have coincidentally finished a favor for interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall when he beat Alex Pereira within the UFC 313 major occasion.
Previous to the occasion, Pereira had teased a attainable transfer to heavyweight sooner or later after fielding a number of questions on a possible showdown towards Jon Jones. In fact, Aspinall has been impatiently ready on his personal alternative to face Jones to unify the UFC heavyweight title however a Pereira win over Ankalaev might have probably messed with these plans.
In the long run, Ankalaev vanquished Pereira in the course of the five-round combat, though there have been just a few cries that the Brazilian deserved to get the nod that evening. It’s an argument that Aspinall completely doesn’t perceive irrespective of how a lot that combat might have probably impacted his future.
“I can’t consider folks watched that combat and thought that Pereira gained,” Aspinall advised JNMediaUK on YouTube. “It was simply wild to me what number of uneducated followers are on the market and what number of uneducated followers thought it was a boring combat as properly.
“I assumed it was an incredible combat, each guys did good. However I believe Ankalaev was only a lot higher than him on the evening. That’s it.”
Whereas Ankalaev didn’t essentially come near a end, he persistently pissed off Pereira along with his ahead aggression, takedown makes an attempt and fixed strain that simply by no means allowed the Brazilian to settle into any type of rhythm.
Aspinall was very impressed with Ankalaev’s technique as a result of for all of the speak about his grappling superiority within the combat, he didn’t actually even must take Pereira all the way down to beat him.
“I believe Ankalaev simply had him guessing so much,” Aspinall mentioned. “I believe Pereira’s degree on the bottom, I don’t know what degree he’s at, however I believe he’s nonetheless a bit cautious of getting taken down. He undoubtedly defended the takedowns properly however me with an informed eye watching it, I don’t assume Ankalaev was actually attempting to take him down that a lot. He undoubtedly tried a few instances. I believe he did 10 or 11 takedown makes an attempt however I’d say solely two or three of them he went full blast.
“I believe the remainder of the time, he was attempting to tire him out with the grappling standing, just like the cage grappling stuff. I believe Ankalaev had the right sport plan. He didn’t overcommit, drained him out.”
The loss ended Pereira’s five-fight win streak at gentle heavyweight and prevented him from a fourth consecutive protection of his title.
That combat could have additionally successfully ended any hope that Pereira would possibly transfer to heavyweight in hopes that he might arrange a champ versus champ matchup towards Jones. That clearly clears any attainable impediment for Aspinall however he’ll additionally take nothing away from Pereira and the unimaginable run he’s been on recently.
“He can do no matter he desires,” Aspinall mentioned about Pereira. “He’s an absolute megastar. I believe there’s fights to be made at middleweight, gentle heavy or heavy, he can do no matter he desires.”
So far as his personal curiosity in dealing with Pereira, Ankalaev or anyone else for that matter, Aspinall makes it clear that he solely has one objective in thoughts and nothing goes to discourage him from that.
“I simply wish to combat for an undisputed title,” Aspinall mentioned. “I’m not bothered who it’s towards.”
