![A UFC Hall of Famer belives Magomed Ankalaev (left) should be next in line to face Alex Pereira (right). [Image credit: @ankalaev_magomed, @alexpoatanpereira on Instagram]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2025/01/c569c-17358654877373-1920.jpg)
![A UFC Hall of Famer belives Magomed Ankalaev (left) should be next in line to face Alex Pereira (right). [Image credit: @ankalaev_magomed, @alexpoatanpereira on Instagram]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAME/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQL/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAJ5i3//EACAQAAEDAwUBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIBAwQFBhEAExQhIkL/2gAIAQEAAT8AuShUa27c51s88JwU5UJZBiIG2062pdB9ZzqLdVZlxmZLTzW28CODuB6wqZ71/8QAFxEBAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIAA//aAAgBAgEBPwDpISO//8QAFhEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQAS/9oACAEDAQE/ANLf/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
It's becoming increasingly more apparent that Magomed Ankalaev is the next challenger to Alex Pereira's UFC light-heavyweight throne. Even though there's no official word on the fight booking yet, MMA fans and analysts believe the no.1-ranked Dagestani fighter has the best claim to challenge 'Poatan'.
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One man who believes this is UFC Hall of Famer and former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier. In a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, 'DC' said this about the potential Pereira-Ankalaev bout (5:25):
"There's never been a better time for [Alex] Pereira to fight [Magomed] Ankalaev than right now."
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He then pulled up the current UFC light-heavyweight rankings and said:
"Ankalaev's 1, [Jiri] Prochazka's 2, Jamahil is 3, Blachowicz is 4, Rakic is 5. He [Pereira] has beaten Prochazka, Hill, Blachowicz - Rakic just lost again - he beat Khalil Rountree. So, who, right? Who? Dominick Reyes actually looked pretty good in his last fight but he's number 11. It has to be Ankalaev. There's no one else in these rankings that makes sense for him to fight."
Listen to Daniel Cormier's comments here:
Former Alex Pereira opponent Jiri Prochazka gives take on Magomed Ankalaev's chances against 'Poatan'
While 'DC' provided his opinion on whether or not Magomed Ankalaev should fight Alex Pereira next, Jiri Prochazka gave his insight on whether the Dagestani would win if the fight ever happened.
Prochazka is a former UFC light-heavyweight champion who lost back-to-back title fights to 'Poatan'. The Czech striker has experience facing the Brazilian KO artist and has given his thoughts on what could transpire if Ankalaev challenges for the belt next.
In an interview with Ariel Helwani, Prochazka wasn't too thrilled with Ankalaev's chances against Alex Pereira, citing the challenger's insistence to keep the fight standing and not use his Dagestani wrestling skills.
When asked if Ankalaev has a strong chance of beating Pereira, Prochazka said (via Ariel Helwani Show):
"I think, no. Especially if he [Ankalaev] fights - like he said - just in stand-up. Sorry, no. If Alex [Pereira] will be in his shape like what he showed in his last fight, 100% no."
Listen to Prochazka's comments here (1:49:17):
