UFC CEO Dana White recently poured cold water on ranked #2 light heavyweight contender Magomed Ankalaev‘s hopes of facing current division champion Alex Pereira, by announcing Pereira’s fight against Khalil Rountree Jr. in October. Adding to Ankalaev’s disappointment, Pereira also recently announced his move down to the middleweight division to challenge UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis, who recently defended his title against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305.

Not happy with Alex Pereira’s announcement, Magomed Ankalaev took to X to allege that Pereira was avoiding him. He stated, “Alex Pereira UFC biggest chicken in the UfC call out guys middleweight he 40 pounds more than them,” Ankalaev further accused Pereira of hiding from him, saying, “I am the only guy he doesn’t even mention my name I promise I’m gonna handle my business in October and I’m gonna knock you out under 2 round.”

Since January, after defeating Johnny Walker, Magomed Ankalev has repeatedly called for a fight with Alex Pereira, even issuing a warning to him. Recently, he accused UFC CEO Dana White of preventing this matchup. However, the 32-year-old has a rumored stipulation: he refuses to fight on American soil because of past refereeing issues. Instead, he insists on facing Pereira in a Middle Eastern country.

Dricus Du Plessis reacts to Alex Pereira’s move to middleweight