Magomed Ankalaev will lose to Alex Pereira if he remains "a man of his word" at UFC 313, predicts Jiri Prochazka after title fight announcement

Alex Pereira is set to defend his UFC light heavyweight title against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 in Las Vegas on March 8. This fight follows Pereira's impressive run in 2024, which included three knockout victories that cemented his position as the No.3 best fighter on the pound-for-pound rankings.

Ankalaev, meanwhile, is undefeated since 2018 and has maintained a stellar 13-fight unbeaten streak. This title fight marks his second attempt at gold, after a controversial draw with Jan Blachowicz in 2022.

However, former champion Jiri Prochazka, who came back to winning ways against Jamahal Hill at UFC 311, made an interesting prediction about the outcome. Prochazka believes that if Ankalaev sticks to his word and keeps the fight strictly stand-up, Pereira will emerge victorious.

Prochazka suggested that Ankalaev's best chance lies in his ground game, where he holds the "power". He warned that if Ankalaev limits the fight to striking, he could be at a disadvantage against Pereira, who excels in the stand-up department. Speaking about the Pereira vs. Ankalaev clash at the UFC 311 post-fight press conference, Prochazka said:

"If Ankalaev will keep his word because I'm the man who's taking a word seriously. If you say something and he said he will fight with Alex just in standup... If he’ll keep his word, I think Alex will win. I see his like most power, biggest [strength] is in the ground."

Check out Jiri Prochazka's comments below:

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Jiri Prochazka rejects backup role for Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev clash

Jiri Prochazka returned to form with a dominant TKO victory over Jamahal Hill at UFC 311, earning a Performance of the Night bonus.

After the bout, Prochazka expressed a desire for a trilogy fight with Alex Pereira, who was announced as the UFC 313 headliner against Magomed Ankalaev. However, Prochazka dismissed the idea of serving as a back-up for their title clash, preferring focused preparation for a direct encounter with Pereira.

While Prochazka acknowledges the significance of staying ready for opportunities, he prefers a structured training camp tailored to a specific opponent. Prochazka emphasized that the uncertainty of a backup role disrupts his focus and preparation.

Speaking at the UFC 311 post-fight press conference, Prochazka said:

“No, I don’t like to be a backup. Because it’s every time, weird, you can fight or not, but you are still prepared. No, I want to make a good preparation, and then to face, like I said, Alex Pereira a third time.”

Check out Jiri Prochazka's comments below (2:30):