Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Błachowicz is confident that if Magomed Ankalaev doesn’t use his wrestling skills in the fight against light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, he will lose.
So, if Ankalaev will be fighting like Rakic (Aleksandar Rakić) in the fight with Pereira, he gonna lose. He need to use his wrestling skills to make like tired Pereira, to make tired his hands, and then he can start fighting in stand up. If he will fight in stand up all the way, like kick-boxer, he’s gonna lose the fight. This is my opinion. If he not gonna use his wrestling skill, he gonna do nothing you know.
Jan Błachowicz in an interview with Michael Bisping
The fight between Pereira and Ankalaev will headline UFC 313 on March 9 in Las Vegas, USA.
Ankalaev last fought in the octagon in October 2024 at UFC 308, winning by unanimous decision against Aleksandar Rakic. He holds a record of 19 wins, one loss, and one draw, with one fight ruled a no-contest.
Pereira last fought in October 2024 at UFC 307, defeating Khalil Rountree by technical knockout in the fourth round. He has a record of 12 wins and two losses.
