Magomed Ankalaev has dismissed Alex Pereira as his toughest career opponent, instead naming Thiago Santos as the most dangerous fighter he has faced. Ankalaev said Pereira is a comfortable matchup for him and that he simply ran out of time in their rematch, adding that a mental injury held him back from performing to his potential. On a potential Pereira vs. Alexander Volkov matchup at heavyweight, Ankalaev — who has sparred with Volkov — said it would be an easy fight for Volkov, describing his kicks as hitting like a crowbar.
Magomed Ankalaev stirred up the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions in a recent interview, downplaying Alex Pereira as a difficult opponent while elevating Alexander Volkov as a man who would handle the champion with ease.
The Dagestani contender, ranked first in the light heavyweight division at 34 years old, carries a 21-2-1 record and holds the number five spot on the pound-for-pound rankings. Ankalaev said Pereira is a comfortable matchup for him stylistically, and attributed his performance in their rematch to running out of time and dealing with what he described as a mental injury that prevented him from fighting to his true level. He was more pointed about who genuinely tested him, naming Thiago Santos as the most dangerous opponent of his career — not the current champion.
Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight champion, is 39 years old and holds a 13-4-0 record. The Brazilian is one of the more active strikers in the division, landing 5.16 significant strikes per minute at a 62 percent accuracy rate, and stands six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach.
Ankalaev then turned his attention to a hypothetical heavyweight contest involving Pereira and Alexander Volkov. Having sparred with Volkov, Ankalaev said it would be an easy night for the Russian, describing his kicks as landing like a crowbar. Volkov, the top-ranked heavyweight at 37, owns a 40-11-0 record and is a physically imposing presence at six-foot-seven with an 80-inch reach. He lands 4.78 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy, and at heavyweight those numbers carry considerable weight.
Why it matters
- Ankalaev's framing of Pereira as a manageable opponent adds a psychological dimension to any future light heavyweight title bout between them.
- His endorsement of Volkov over Pereira in a heavyweight setting raises the profile of a potential cross-divisional scenario.
- Naming Thiago Santos as his most feared opponent rather than Pereira is a notable public statement from the division's top contender.
