<\/p>\n
Magomed Ankalaev (blue gloves) reacts after defeating Alex Pereira (not pictured) during UFC 313 at T-Mobile Arena. \/ Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
The highly-anticipated fight has understandably been the talk of the MMA community since it was announced, and it didn\u2019t take long after White broke the news for Ankalaev to send a cryptic message to both fans and Pereira. <\/p>\n
Dana White announced my next fight on October 4th, I\u2019m knocking Alex out this time. There is no other way, get ready for the big show.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Muhammad big ANK Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM) July 22, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cDana White announced my next fight on October 4th, I\u2019m knocking Alex out this time. There is no other way, get ready for the big show.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE: Middleweight dark horse predicts Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 319<\/a><\/p>\n Many fans expected that Ankalaev might try and test Pereira\u2019s grappling during their initial meeting at UFC 313, but instead \u201cPoatan\u201d came up short on the scorecards after a fight that largely took place on the feet. <\/p>\n Still only 15 fights into his professional MMA career, Pereira won his first three UFC bouts to earn a middleweight title shot against his former kickboxing rival<\/a> Israel Adesanya that he won via TKO during the final round. <\/p>\n Alex Pereira (red gloves) fights Magomed Ankalaev (blue gloves) during UFC 313 at T-Mobile Arena. \/ Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images<\/p>\n The 38-year-old relinquished the middleweight belt in an immediate rematch with Adesanya before he moved up to light heavyweight, where he went 5-0 with four stoppage-wins during his title run before he ran into Ankalaev last year. <\/p>\n READ MORE: Justin Gaethje says ‘absolutely not’ to rumored UFC fight and threatens retirement<\/a><\/p>\n Ankalaev does boast a number of wins by KO\/TKO on his UFC record even if he does lack the kind of one-punch knockout power<\/a> that has helped make Pereira such a massive star, and on October 4 both men will have the chance to trade strikes once again at UFC 320 in Las Vegas. <\/p>\n \u2022 UFC 321 main event revealed as Tom Aspinall puts heavyweight belt on the line<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 UFC Rio receives heavyweight banger featuring undefeated slugger<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 UFC announces first batch of fights for return to Australia<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 Khabib distances Ilia Topuria from Conor McGregor with subtle jab<\/a><\/p>\n Stick with MMAKnockout<\/a> for more FREE coverage of the UFC and MMA.<\/p>\n Follow MMAKnockout on Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n