Since the recent fight between UFC light heavyweight king Alex Pereira and Khalil Rountree Jr. was announced, two figures have drawn attention outside of the fight itself. First is fighter-turned-analyst Chael Sonnen, known for his bold and often controversial predictions. He stirred debate by stating, “Rountree Jr. is going to win this fight.” The second is Dagestani sensation Magomed Ankalaev, who many consider a more fitting opponent for ‘Poatan’. ‘Russian Terror’ has repeatedly accused Pereira of avoiding him, calling him “UFC’s biggest chicken.”

What if these two big critics of Alex Pereira joined forces? Well, that’s exactly what happened, and now heavyweight king Jon Jones has been dragged into the mix as well.

Magomed Ankalaev Sets Sights on Jon Jones, Leaving Alex Pereira Fight in Limbo

A couple of days ago, Chael Sonnen left the MMA community in disbelief when he declared the #2 ranked contender, Magomed Ankalaev, as the best striker in the light heavyweight division. This bold claim defies the presence of Alex Pereira, whom fans and critics already recognize as the top striker in MMA, especially after his astonishing performance at UFC 307. Even the event referee, Marc Goddard, echoed this sentiment immediately after the fight when he told Joe Rogan, “I’ve been doing this for 20 years, and the way he [Pereira] hits people, the sound is like nothing I’ve ever heard before.”

But these claims haven’t satisfied ‘The American Gangster’ or Ankalaev. Following Sonnen’s praise, ‘Russian Terror’, fueled with excitement, declared, “Chael Sonnen, you are right. I am the best striker in the light heavyweight division.” Riding the wave of confidence, Magomed Ankalaev didn’t stop there—he went on to call out the legendary Jon Jones, saying, “If Jon Jones’ opponent gets injured, I will fight him, and I will beat him.”

We can only imagine what Jon Jones’ reaction will be upon seeing this tweet, as he is honing himself for his one last dance in the octagon against Stipe Miocic at the upcoming UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden scheduled for next month. This is now the second time this week that someone has challenged the status of Alex Pereira’s striking in the MMA world.

Artem Vakhitov challenges the ongoing narrative on ‘Poatan’

UFC is gaining attention with the latest addition to their light heavyweight division: Artem Vakhitov, notoriously known as the “last man to defeat Alex Pereira in the kickboxing realm.” He is now just one fight away from his UFC debut, having cleared the previous round against Islam Masref last Tuesday night on Dana White’s Contender Series Week 8.

Vakhitov has only one dream in his sights: to seek a trilogy against his former rival, Alex Pereira, who has now reached superstar status in the UFC, especially after his recent win against Khalil Rountree Jr., which further cemented his status as the best striker in MMA.

However, while speaking to Submission Radio, Artem Vakhitov remained critical of this fact, claiming, “You know, a real striker is someone who has a lot of combinations and very different opportunities. He just throws one punch and delivers it well, but it doesn’t mean he has good distance, timing, and other stuff.”

What are your thoughts on Magomed Ankalaev’s recent tweet? Do you also share the view that Ankalaev is the best striker in his division, not Alex Pereira? Can he go toe-to-toe with heavyweight champion Jon Jones? Drop your opinion below.