A UFC Shanghai headliner expects Alex Pereira to lose a second consecutive fight against Magomed Ankalaev.
Pereira had his light heavyweight reign ended in disappointing way last March, when he led the UFC 313 pay-per-view in Las Vegas against Ankalaev.
After the Brazilian had broken down three successful defenses in a violent way, Ankalaev Pereira defeated five rounds to start a new era on 205 pounds.
An immediate rematch appeared more than likely, and despite a short period of uncertainty, which is finally on the calendar. Ankalaev vs Pereira 2 will UFC 320 on October 4 Head lines, which closes a card that also contains the next defending defense of Merab Dvalishvili.
For Pereira, the competition offers the opportunity to recover a belt to its UFC CV, which had written on it only two years after his debut in Record time. However, that success has brought something that could cost 'Poatan', according to a colleague -member.
Zhang Mingyang says that Alex Pereira is 'too rich' to beat Magomed Ankalaev
Among those who want to follow in the footsteps of Pereira is glory through his way to a light heavyweight, Zhang Mingyang is.
And for his biggest fight so far in Shanghai, 'Mountain Tiger' made a grim assessment of Pereira's opportunities in the Ankalaev -Rematch on UFC 320.
“I think Ankalaev can defend his title because I think Alex Pereira is not as motivated as before,” Zhang told MMA Fighting.
“I mean, if we can get the old Pereira back, he is still the, let's say, better striker than Ankalaev. But for now, if he still fights like the way he fought the last fight, I think Ankalaev can still win this fight.
“He has earned too much money,” Zhang added, with regard to Pereira. “He is too rich. I think, regardless of who you are like a hunter, or if a person, if you are too rich, you are just a kind of (missing) of motivation (compared to) when you are young when you are poor when you are hungry.”
A struggle for motivation as a result of immense wealth that collects from fighting has been widely pointed to the reason behind the MMA output of Conor McGregor.
The Irishman won only one fight in the nine years since he defeated Eddie Alvarez to become the very simultaneous two -division champion UFC.
Zhang Mingyang could get closer to the title at UFC Shanghai
Zhang will undoubtedly notice the next title fight of his division, especially if he can do the job this Saturday.
After Zhang brutally ended Anthony Smith in the pension fight of the American, which finishes the 19 first round in 19 victories, the Chinese star will try to make another ranked competitor his newest victim on a home floor.
'Mountain Tiger' will compete for the second time in the Octagon on a home floor, with Zhang making UFC Shanghai against Johnny Walker against Johnny Walker on August 23.
A victory would be moving to a 4-0 record in the promotion and his hope will further improve the challenge of Ankalaev or Pereira along the line.