It seems that time is tapping the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship Rematch by Alex Pereira.
Pereira was beaten by Magomed Ankalaev on UFC 313 in March and put an end to his entertaining regime on 205 pounds in his fourth defense.
After having enjoyed a largely dominant rule, it certainly seemed that Pereira would have an immediate chance to avenge that loss. In addition to UFC CEO Dana White implied so much, Ankalaev publicly accepted another collision against 'Patan'.
However, the uncertainty arose after the Brazilian had rejected the Rematch for UFC 317 on 28 June. The alleged rejections for the rest of the summer have led Ankalaev Pereira to give up that quickly returned.
Now the former middleweight and light heavyweight King has received its deadline.
The manager of Magomed Ankalaev says that the last Alex Pereira can accept that title Rematch is October
While in Newark for the title of Kayla Harrison on UFC 316, Ali Abdelaziz sat down for an interview with MMA Junkie's Mike Bohn.
Abdelaziz, who manages Ankalaev, gave an update on the light heavyweight title photo, which confirms the claims of the champion that Pereira will turn off their rematch before August.
The Dominance MMA CEO acknowledged that 'Patan' earns the first shot, but he insisted that the annual pay-per-view of the UFC will contain in Abu Dhabi Ankalaev in October-with or without Pereira.
“Listen, we were asked to fight the international fighting week, we said yes,” said Abdelaziz. “We were asked to fight Alex in August, we said yes. We were asked to fight October.
“This is what Maga says:” Alex is at every event. He is on vacations, he does this – I don't know if he really is going to fight me if he just has fun … I kill myself in the gym. I don't know when I am fighting him. I am the champion, I feel that I am the challenger. “
“I said if he is not ready, I want to get him some of these other boys,” Abdelaziz added. “I think Alex Pereira has earned it, and I think he deserves it. If we have to wait, it's okay. … (but a) one hundred percent – if it's not Abu Dhabi, he will certainly fight someone else.”
Alex Pereira broke his silence to tackle the rematch uncertainty of the UFC title
Although those comments can stimulate some fear in the heads of the supporters of Pereira, the ex-kickboxer recently came up to offer them some reassurance.
In a video posted by the UFC Brasil YouTube channel, Pereira rejected Ankalaev's pension claim and insisted that he will soon reveal the details of his next fight after taking “free time”.
“We will certainly talk about my next fight soon,” said Pereira.
“I don't have a specific date yet, but we already have an idea. I took this free time to rest, because I worked hard in 2024. I think my body got tired, I had some injuries, so I decided to take it easy, more on the recovery side, and now I come back.
'To come back [the right way]: sturdy and strong, to go after my belt again. “
A rematch with Ankalaev would mark unknown territory in the UFC for Pereira.
Both rematches have come to opponents so far, whom he defeated the first time, Israel Adesanya and Jiri Prochazka.