UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira will fight Khalil Rountree Jr. on top of UFC 307 this October. However, this is being called out by many UFC fans and even other fighters who feel ‘The War Horse’ getting a title shot is patently unfair for two main reasons. The first, of course, was Rountree’s recent suspension for ingesting a banned substance (accidentally according to the light heavyweight), and the second, was Magomed Ankalaev.

The Dagestani is ranked #2, and by far, was the most deserving candidate to fight Pereira next. However, insider and former champ Daniel Cormier has revealed the thought process behind why the UFC has skipped over Ankalaev, claiming it is because Alex Pereira is no Conor McGregor.

‘DC’ thinks Alex Pereira is too big a star to risk loss against Ankalaev

Many speculate that the reason Alex Pereira is not fighting Magomed Ankalaev is because Dana White and co. want to ‘protect’ ‘Poatan’. Although not much of a grappler, the Dagestani can more than handle himself on the ground, which, of course, is the Brazilian’s weakest suit. And Cormier feels the UFC doesn’t want to put the golden goose in jeopardy.

After all, ‘Poatan’ is the biggest star in the promotion at the moment, having stepped up to save at least three marquee UFC events since last November. Not to mention the Brazilian has become a blockbuster star and a veritable PPV seller.

“I mean Ankalaev seems so obvious a choice, but not really the choice. Because I wouldn’t put him in there with Alex right now, like honestly. Alex Pereira is actually selling pay-per-views and he’s making money. He’s very popular for you [UFC] as a company. I don’t know if Ankalaev can do that right now,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel.

On the other hand, paradoxically Cormier feels that Pereira isn’t a big enough star that he could put over people who defeat him in a bout like, say, Conor Mcgregor. ‘DC’ feels that Pereira is in an awkward ‘goldilocks zone’ where he is big enough that the UFC wants to protect him, while at the same time, Pereira is not a big enough star at the moment to ‘elevate’ other fighters to star status by beating him.

“If you beat Conor McGregor you become a pay-per-view attraction, if you beat certain guys you kind of take their shine and you become that attraction. I don’t know if you beat Pereira you become that attraction. I don’t know just by beating him if he’s a big enough star yet to elevate the next guy,” he added.

Ankalaev is not content to sit out and wait for Dana White to offer him a title shot and has taken another fight meanwhile.

Magomed Ankalaev to face Aleksandar Rakic on UFC 308

Magomed Ankalaev is on a twelve-fight undefeated streak and is the only top-five fighter who hasn’t already lost to Pereira or is not coming off a loss. Because of this, he is considered a far more deserving candidate to fight for the 205-pound belt than the #8 ranked Rountree. What many feel goes in Rountree’s favor is that ‘The War Horse’ is a striker like Pereira and will keep the fight on the feet, which suits the champ stylistically.

In the same month as Pereira-Rountree, however, Ankalaev will face another strong light heavyweight contender, a victory over whom he hopes will finally secure him a title shot. The Dagestani will face #5 ranked Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi in late October. Rakic is coming off of back-to-back losses to Jan Blachowicz and Jiri Prochazka and is in desperate need of a win.

This is why he will be expected to go all out against Ankalaev as a win will not only give him a much-needed victory but also get him to the front of the line for a title shot! Perhaps that is exactly what Dana White and the UFC are hoping for. Do you want to see a matchup between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev? Let us know in the comments below.