It’s not time to say “No Chama!” just yet. Alex Pereira may have taken his first L in the light heavyweight division at UFC 313, but if there’s one thing we know about ‘Poatan’, it’s that he never stays down for long. Magomed Ankalaev walked away with the belt, sure, but did he really beat the former champ, or just survive him? The UFC seems to be wondering the same thing, because Dana White’s already hinting at a rematch.

When asked if Pereira would get another shot, White kept it short and sweet. “Probably.” No long-winded explanation, just a quiet nod and a one-word answer. And just like that, the wheels are in motion. As for Pereira? The man is already plotting his revenge. “Gonna make some adjustments for the rematch and I’ll be back much better,” he declared on Instagram, pizza in hand, surrounded by his team. Because what’s a comeback plan without carbs?

Now, let’s be real. The Dagestani got the job done, but did he do anything? Even Pereira seemed unimpressed. “Putting me up against the cage, he didn’t really do anything,” he pointed out. A win’s a win, but when the former champ walks out of the fight looking more annoyed than beaten, you know a rematch is inevitable.

And here’s the thing, Alex Pereira lives for a second chance. Need proof? Just ask Israel Adesanya. The man stormed into the UFC from kickboxing, hunted down his old rival, and took his middleweight title in only his fourth fight with the promotion. History shows he comes back deadlier when given time to adjust. But while UFC boss and ‘Poatan’ seem set on running it back, does everyone feel the same way? Or does the new champ have other plans?

Will the new champ let Alex Pereira reclaim the throne this soon?

Magomed Ankalaev surely did walk away with the belt. But he wasn’t exactly thrilled with how the fight played out, or former champ’s take on it, for that matter. “I kept moving forward, I kept pressuring him, and he kept running away from me for 20 minutes,” the newly bestowed champ fired back when asked about Pereira’s comments. The Russian made it clear he had no doubts about the decision and seemed more amused than anything at the idea that the fight was even close. “Maybe in a rematch, he can fight for real and not run away the entire time.”

And here’s where things take a turn. Because, believe it or not, someone saw this coming. And no, it wasn’t your regular fight analyst, nor was it Ankalaev himself. It was Pereira’s ex, Christine Merle. Before the fight, she made an eerily spot-on prediction, suggesting that a Pereira loss might actually be good for the division. “It would be good for the division to have a new champion because obviously, Pereira can get the title back, so it would be good for the division,” she said.

Maybe, she was hinting that the Dagestani winning isn’t the worst thing because it sets up an even bigger, blockbuster rematch. All in good faith, right? Either way, the damage is done, and the stage is set for an explosive rematch.

So, was this a mere coincidence, or did Pereira’s fate get sealed by a lethal combo of Ankalaev’s relentless pressure and a perfectly timed ex-curse? Either way, the stage is set for an explosive rematch.

What do you think? Will Pereira flip the script and reclaim his throne? Or will Ankalaev silence the doubters? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!