UFC 313’s build-up has been as fiery as a backyard bonfire. But let’s be real, the trash talk? It’s been a ‘chef’s kiss’ level of petty. From digs about drinking habits to making faces at events, the insults have been flying fast. Magomed Ankalaev, finally landing his shot at the champ, has been turning up the heat with lines like, “You just signed your death certificate. I’m gonna punish you for ducking me.” For someone like Alex Pereira, the wrecking ball of the light heavyweight division, that’s got to sting.

Or does it? The reigning champ’s response to all the noise hasn’t been verbal, it’s been visual. Enter, the Instagram post that shook MMA Reddit to its core. In a dramatic, slow-motion video that looked more like a movie trailer than a training clip, the Brazilian was seen grappling with former Cuban Olympic wrestler Geovanis Palacios at Fighting Nerds Gym. The scene had everything; theatrical music, moody lighting, and a cryptic caption, “Chama, March 8th in Vegas”

And now, was this a glimpse of the light heavyweight kingpin leveling up his grappling – a skill often considered his Achilles’ heel? Or was this just a clever bit of misdirection designed to make Ankalaev second-guess his game plan? After all, this is the same Pereira whose 2024 highlight reel includes bulldozing Jamahal Hill, Jiri Prochazka, and Khalil Rountree Jr. to cement his light heavyweight gold status.

Meanwhile, the Russian standout fought his way back into title contention with a dominant win over Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 308, eager to erase the memory of his controversial title fight draw with Jan Blachowicz. With the #1 contender hungry for redemption, it doesn’t exactly seem like the ‘good news’ Pereira would have been hoping to deliver, does it? As expected, fans didn’t hold back when Pereira dropped his grappling montage. Responses ranged from sarcasm and skepticism to outright hilarity.

Has age caught up with Alex Pereira as fans doubt, or is he bluffing the Dagestani? 

For someone whose career is built on knockouts, the sudden shift to grappling caught fans off guard. Some saw it as a genuine attempt to round out his game. Others? Well, they weren’t buying it. One fan joked, “Slow-mo + epic music = Ankalaev’s funeral, I guess.” Another went all-in with the satire, “Dammit Alex, I better see you turn into Alex Poatan Karelin come the main event. I better see wrestling that makes Khabib and Islam cry tears of joy and Charles, Justin, and Dustin have Vietnam flashbacks. WAR POATAN.”

Other fans couldn’t resist poking fun at Pereira’s lack of grappling credentials. One wrote, “If Pereira wins by guillotine, I’m gonna explode—and so is Dustin (Poirier).” But not all the reactions were dismissive. Some fans pointed out Ankalaev’s striking-heavy style, challenging the assumption that he’d have a massive edge on the mat. “Do people still think Ankalaev is a grappler? He’s a striker,” one user said. Another noted, “People see the last name, Caucasus origin, and assume he’s Islam or Chimaev, but Ankalaev’s wrestling is just decent, it’s not his main weapon.”

And others wondered whether Alex Pereira’s training camp lacked the right sparring partners to prepare him for the Dagestani threat. “I wish he had some people around who could replicate the Dagestani style of wrestling or some high-pressure clinching against the fence type wrestlers,” one comment read.

But ‘Poatan’ doesn’t actually need to out-grapple Ankalaev to win. He just needs to plant the seed of doubt, and make Magomed Ankalaev hesitate for a split second. That’s all it takes for the champ’s signature left hook to land, and when it does, it’s lights out. But the Dagestani phenom isn’t exactly falling for the theatrics. He’s as calculated as they come, a fighter who thrives on keeping his opponents guessing. And his striking is just as dangerous as his wrestling. If Pereira’s grappling is nothing more than a bluff, the Brazilian champ could be walking straight into a trap.

So, what’s your call? Is the champ pulling the ultimate bluff, or will Ankalaev expose him under the bright lights of UFC 313? Let us know in the comments below!