Magomed Ankalaev finds himself in the spotlight more now than he did as champion after losing his light heavyweight belt to Alex Pereira. A few days ago, at UFC 320, ‘Poatan’ stunned the MMA world at the T-Mobile Arena, dismantling the Dagestani star with a flurry of elbows and punches in the first round. In just 80 seconds, Pereira not only avenged his UFC 313 loss but also reclaimed the belt in emphatic fashion. While supporters celebrated the Brazilian’s triumphant return, Ankalaev’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, offered a behind-the-scenes explanation.

‘Team Khabib’ manager admitted responsibility for letting Ankalaev take the fight, noting that pre-fight complications hindered the Dagestani star. Abdelaziz explained: “There’s a lot of things happened with Ankalaev in his camp.”The story gained further traction when Leo Guimarães posted a video on social media showing that the former champ had suffered a broken rib and had undergone medical treatment roughly 20 days before the fight. The revelation has sparked speculation about a potential trilogy. However, Team Alex Pereira has already dismissed any notion of a trilogy in the near future. Amid the unfolding drama, UFC legends have shared their perspectives, adding fuel to the ongoing debate.

UFC legend dismisses Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev trilogy

The topic recently surfaced on the Pound-for-Pound podcast with UFC legends Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo. During the discussion, Usman asked Cejudo about the possibility of a trilogy fight, highlighting the stakes involved. Cejudo welcomed the idea but expressed skepticism that the UFC would give Magomed Ankalaev another shot at redemption.

Discussing the organization’s preference, he said: “I think they want to keep, they’re going to keep Alex Pereira as champion. Why? He sells tickets, his demeanor, he’s stoic, he knocks people the f–k out. Like, as good as Ankalaev is, he’s a fraction of that. He’s just as good, equally a great fighter, but with all the bells and whistles? No. There’s too many storylines.” Cejudo suggested that a matchup between Magomed Ankalaev and Carlos Ulberg could prove compelling.

However, the former Olympian ultimately leaned toward a trilogy between Jiri Prochazka and Pereira, with ‘Poatan’ leading the series 2-0. He described this path as the “most logical” choice for the UFC. On the subject of preparation and resilience, Henry Cejudo reminded the Russian star and his team: “No excuses.” Before losing to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313, Alex Pereira had already carried the UFC’s “lackluster” fight cards on his broad shoulders, establishing himself as one of the organization’s standout stars.

Notably, last year Alex Pereira defended his title three times in just 175 days at UFC 300, 303, and 307, joining elite company as only the seventh fighter in UFC history to successfully defend a title three times within a calendar year. In doing so, he also became the fastest fighter ever to reach this milestone. ‘The Brazilian’s soaring popularity has delivered a windfall for Dana White & Co. For instance, UFC 300 and UFC 303 alone drew live gate revenues of $16,508,823 and $15,909,243, respectively, while the UFC 307 event in Salt Lake City added another $5,000,000 to the coffers.

Clearly, the Brazilian’s appeal, both inside and outside the Octagon, has cemented Alex Pereira as a central figure in the UFC’s modern era. What is the lose of the UFC 320 main event doing in the meantime?

Magomed Ankalaev opens up on his crushing loss to Pereira at UFC 320

The buzz surrounding the Dagestani powerhouse came crashing down last week when Magomed Ankalaev stepped into the Octagon for his rematch against Alex Pereira. Initially touted by fans as a likely victor, the Russian powerhouse’s momentum evaporated almost instantly. Drawing on his kickboxing pedigree, ‘Poatan’ unleashed a relentless storm, leaving Ankalaev’s hopes of redemption from their controversial previous bout—dubbed by many as a “robbery”—in ruins.

Surprisingly, in just the first round, Alex Pereira made the fight look effortless, bringing Magomed Ankalaev’s brief reign as champion to an abrupt end after only six months. However, the Dagestani contender does not view the defeat as a setback. Instead, he frames it as a test from God, approaching the loss with faith and resilience, and believing it will forge him into an even stronger fighter.

“If Allah tested me with defeat, it means he wants to strengthen me,” Magomed Ankalaev wrote on Instagram. “I bow to his will, but not to difficulties. To those who stayed by my side – thank you. Thank you also to those who turned away. After all, Allah clears the path not only of weakness, but also of unnecessary people,” the Russian star added.

The question now on everyone’s mind is whether a trilogy between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev makes sense. Considering Ankalaev was shut down quickly in their recent rematch, does he truly deserve another shot at the champion? Share your thoughts and weigh in below.