Rizvan Magomedov, the manager of UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev, stated that the Russian fighter may defend his title either at the end of summer or during an October event in Abu Dhabi.
"We reached out to Pereira's team to check if they are ready for a rematch during Fight Week. Magomed was eager and expressed his willingness to fight and defend his title against Pereira. However, for some reason, Alex declined,” Magomedov told Match TV.
Rizvan Magomedov
It's possible we will have a fight at the end of summer or in October in Abu Dhabi. Anyone could be the contender – whether it's Alex Pereira or Jiří Procházka. If there are worthy challengers, they should step into the octagon and prove their worth.
For context, Magomed Ankalaev's last fight took place against Alex Pereira in March 2025 at UFC 313, where he won by unanimous decision, earning the light heavyweight title. Ankalaev’s mixed martial arts record stands at 20 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw, with one no contest.
