Alex Pereira Met With a Sad Fate as Fans Derail UFC Star’s African Wrestling Initiative After Magomed Ankalaev Humiliation

In the blistering heat of a sun-drenched arena in Japan, former light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira stood across from Alboury, a Senegalese wrestling talent. Two takedown attempts came flying his way. Pereira sprawled hard. But then, Alboury snatched his arm, slid behind, and dropped the former UFC champ into the dirt.

The video was meant to inspire. Instead, it sparked a storm. In the caption for the post by ‘AfroBallers’ on Instagram, there was hope for change as it read, “Laamb, Senegal’s traditional wrestling, has the power to become the next dominant force in MMA — even surpassing the Dagestani style. This is a golden opportunity for Senegalese leaders to showcase Senegal to the world. Right here, UFC champion Alex Pereira sharpens his skills alongside Alboury — proof that the future of MMA could run through Dakar.”

It was more than an Instagram post. It was a call to arms—a golden ticket for Senegalese wrestling to strut onto the world stage. But the timing? Questionable. After all, at UFC 313, the Brazilian juggernaut came to a screeching halt when he went up against the Dagestani phenom, Magomed Ankalaev. Ahead of the fight, the narrative was focused on ‘Poatan’s striking prowess. Yet, Ankalaev flipped the script and walked him down for 5 rounds to secure the light-heavyweight crown and cement Dagestani dominance in the sport of MMA.

So, what exactly is Laamb? It’s not just sport—it’s a ceremony. Rooted in traditions and passed through generations, Senegalese wrestling (lutte avec frappe) blends raw strength with open-hand strikes in sandy pits under the sun. One such warrior is Oumar “Reug Reug” Kane. Raised in Thiaroye-sur-Mer, Kane trained in the ancient art of mbapatte before climbing into the MMA world. He’s now the ONE Championship heavyweight kingpin.

Maybe that’s proof that Laamb can go global. Proof, perhaps, that Alex Pereira’s experiment wasn’t so wild. But the fans weren’t buying it as we take a look at what the netizens had to say about the entire affair!

Fans shut down Alex Pereira’s Senegalese wrestling experiment with a reminder of Dagestani dominance

One fan laughed off the entire idea, writing, “Send him 2-3 years Senegal 🇸🇳 and forget.” A reference to Islam Makhachev’s advice to Daniel Cormier about how to turn his wrestlers into world-beaters. But the comment hinted at a deeper skepticism. For some fans, Laamb is entertainment, not evolution.

Another was more blunt in his dismissal with, “Surpassing the Dagestani style”… lmao it ain’t surpassing sh–.” This jab mirrored the current pecking order in MMA. Dagestan has become synonymous with domination. Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev, and now Magomed Ankalaev, all have demonstrated the different levels of the region in stunning fashion inside the Octagon!

One African fan chimed in with brutal honesty, “As an African, I have to say that the Dagestani style is way superior than Laamb, which is mostly focused on pure strength and not so much on technique. Laamb is more of a cultural and traditional fighting style, but would be very ineffective in the UFC.” The words echoed a recurring theme—respect for tradition, but doubt in its practicality. What do you think?

One fan wrote with a note of resignation, “Unfortunately alex will not win the title again, the Dagestani titan will be holding on to it for a while.” It seems no matter what happens now, Ankalaev’s shadow will loom over Alex Pereira’s every move.

One fan even questioned Pereira’s age and adaptability with, “It’s too late for him to learn any new technique of wrestling.” Time, in combat sports, is ruthless. Skills fade. Bodies stiffen. ‘Poatan’ is now 37 years old, and with a long kickboxing career already behind him and the mileage that comes along with it, will he be able to adapt?

While he showed glimpses of his wrestling skills against the Senegalese wrestler, Ankalaev and other Dagestani fighters are on an entirely different plane compared to them! And so, what began as a hopeful moment in the sand quickly turned into a storm of skepticism online. The symbolism was strong—Pereira, fresh off a sobering loss to a Dagestani powerhouse, grappling with a rising Senegalese star. But fans weren’t in the mood for it. To them, it felt like trying to patch a sinking ship with tradition and sentiment.

Still, the story isn’t over. Laamb might not dethrone Dagestan overnight. But it has a pulse, as with “Reug Reug,” Senegalese grit can climb from the sands to the summit. But the question remains: is Laamb the answer to Dagestani dominance? And can Alex Pereira reclaim his throne from the Dagestani mountain standing in his way? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!