"Let's do it. Alex, stop running away from me. ... I have heard that he wants to fight during Ramadan. We are not fighting in Ramadan. Otherwise, after Ramadan or before Ramadan, if he says yes, we will fight him," Ankalaev said during the UFC 308 post-fight press conference. This statement highlights Ankalaev's eagerness to face champion Alex Pereira and the urgency of making this fight happen.
"I think he's being protected. I'm not sure why the UFC is doing it. I think they're protecting him. We know that he's an exciting fighter. We know that he fights in the standup. He's a great striker. So I think that they're just saving him, protecting him," Ankalaev mentioned. This reveals his skepticism towards UFC matchmaking practices concerning Pereira.
UFC CEO Dana White indicated that Ankalaev would be the next No. 1 contender at 205 pounds, affirming the consensus that Ankalaev has rightfully earned his title shot after solidifying his position with a decisive victory.
Collection
[
|
...
]