Magomed Ankalaev drew plenty of criticism from fellow contenders during his time as champion. Reason? It was for his relentless social media callouts, which many found disrespectful. In particular, ‘Big Ank’ frequently targeted Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka online, escalating tensions between them. And that’s why an angry ‘Poatan’ wasted no time making a statement at UFC 320. Still, one lingering question looms. Was Ankalaev really behind all those posts, or was his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, pulling the strings from behind the scenes?

Not too long ago, Prochazka and Ankalaev engaged in a heated verbal spat on social media. The former Dagestani champion wrote on X, “Yes, your homework. You are a nerd,” targeting ‘BJP’ for focusing on his education instead of preparing to fight him. This was just one of many exchanges that fueled animosity between them. However, a surprising interaction at the UFC PI before the Vegas fight made the Czech fighter reconsider. Prochazka began to realize that Ankalaev might actually be a decent person, and that his manager could have been the one stoking much of the online tension.

In an interview with FullSend MMA, Prochazka said, “When I was in PI. I train there in the cage, and I saw Ankalaev. He came around me and just said, ‘Hello!’. And I said, ‘F–k man, why are you so nice? Are you nice guy or bad guy? On the Twitter (Now X) you’re really bad guy, Big Ank or whatever.’ So, I just didn’t understand that. Then I really understand that he’s a sportsman… like normal sportsman, and somebody else is writing this bulls–t on Twitter. So, I can’t be angry for him. But, still he’s responsible for what his account writing on the Twitter.” 

Honestly, fans had long suspected that Ali Abdelaziz might be behind Ankalaev’s social media posts. Now, the Dominance MMA CEO has come forward and subtly hinted that he did play a role in managing the former light heavyweight champion’s account. At the same time, he made it clear that Ankalaev was fully aware of, and had accepted, what was being posted online.

In a lengthy Instagram post, Ali wrote, “I am Team Magomed Ankalaev. Whatever I can do to help him, I will do it. As long as I don’t insult someone’s family, religion, or his nation. Everything Ankalaev said on his social media, he approved it. And if I did help him, it was his knowledge. But, at the end of the day, we are in a fighting business.”

Well, although Ali Abdelaziz admitted that he was indeed behind fueling the beef between the light heavyweight contenders, fans weren’t entirely satisfied. They rallied behind Prochazka, holding Ankalaev’s manager accountable for stirring the pot and potentially tarnishing his image by portraying a character contrary to the Dagestani’s true nature. Let’s take a look at what UFC fans had to say.

UFC world rallies behind Jiri Prochazka as backlash hits Magomed Ankalaev’s manager

One very angry fan wrote, “Ali is a cancer to this sport. People do not realize how much negativity he brings in so many ways! Guy is amazing in a horrible way.” While the Dominance MMA CEO holds a very influential position as a manager, it’s clear that not everyone is a fan of him. Another user chimed in, “Lmao Ali’s a wild one, but Jiri’s clap back was perfect,” reflecting a sentiment shared by many.

Trash-talking has always been part of the sport, but it needs to match the athlete’s persona. Another fan added, “Hate him, not Ankalaev. But Jiri is right, Ankalaev should take responsibility.” According to Ali’s post, Magomed Ankalaev is aware of what’s being posted on his social media account. Yet, fan reactions continued to get even wilder.

One user imagined a chaotic UFC 320 scenario, writing, “I so wanted Alex to jump the cage and Khabib–Danis the f— out of Ali.” This comment harkens back to UFC 229, when Khabib Nurmagomedov jumped the cage and attacked Conor McGregor’s corner. As entertaining as it sounds, Alex Pereira doesn’t seem the type to act like that—at least for now.

Then there was this backlash, “He’s the worst, it makes me dislike his fighters because of how s—ty a person he is.” Although Ali manages some of the sport’s legendary fighters, it’s clear that many people dislike him for the way he navigates and shapes his fighters’ careers.

With that in mind, do you agree with Jiri Prochazka and the UFC fans that Ali Abdelaziz should be held accountable? Let us know in the comments below.