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UFC would be smart to keep poatans opponents of the striking type.
Yea, Ank has a chin but he's never faced a striker like Poatan. If Ank was smart, he'd take that fight a lot sooner before Poatan gets better with his grappling.
100% right, people need to look at the upcoming PPV schedule before jumping to conclusions. We aren't going to see Pereira again from 301 to 305.
I don’t think some people don’t understand there’s a business factor as to when and where fighters are booked. They want to spread their talent out to fill cards and they also do care about catering to international audiences with local fighters. They aren’t going to slot a big name in Pereira in some co-main slot in England or Australia when those already have big headliners tailored to the local audience just because he’s available. There’s other factors to consider.
The champ doesn't call shit in the UFC, and I wouldn't be surprised if Pereira would rather not fight Ankalaev even if he does mainly stand.The champ calls the shot, if he want it sooner, so be it... If Ank is not ready, he can get a shot later. I see no issue here...
Why wouldn't Alex want to fight Ank in a primarly standup affair?The champ doesn't call shit in the UFC, and I wouldn't be surprised if Pereira would rather not fight Ankalaev even if he does mainly stand.
I'm saying Ankalaev mainly strikes, however he can wrestle very well which is why Pereira might not be keen.Why wouldn't Alex want to fight Ank in a primarly standup affair?
You are right, but we have learned here on Sherdog that the champ has no part on when and where the fights take place. The UFC just decides that, and the fighters will do what they are told.Ank is the challenger if anything the fight should be in Brazil. Where tf do these Russians get off begging for every fight to be in UAE.
Izzy isn't over in Australia. Perth is a 7 hour flight from NZ. I get the Dricus/ Izzy fight in Perth for reasons of timing, but why do we keep pretending that Izzy in a Australia is a thing?
LHW Champ travelling to Abu Dhabi to fight a challenger on home territory? Doesn't make sense.
What are you talking about? Unless it was a HW title fight, it would bump anything else down the line. TItle fights are always fought with the heaviest at the top as far as a I can recallUnless Pereira would want to settle for Co-main I think Abu Dhabi was a fair suggestion from Ankalaev given all the other upcoming PPV main events seem covered.
Respects come naturally when you're the realest of the realists in the business that full of clout chasers, attention seekers, fakes, and pretenders.Poatan has more fans in Dubai, India than Ank.
Ank's no Islam/Khabib, whereas Poatan is universally loved right now. He's like the MMA version of Usyk/Beterbiev. Everybody respects him for being a throwback warrior.
Ank already got offered a shot and he declined because of Ramadan… he doesn’t just get to call out the champ on pretty much a hometown advantage shenanigan town where a certain set of fighters always seem to have the edge. Ank got his shot, he declined, end of story. (Not to mention the other stinker he laid against Jan where he got his legs chewed up)
Have Pereira fight for the HW interim while Jiri and Ank sort things out.
Poåtan's legacy is still far from GOAT though.Pereira is reaching Vegas and MSG only GOAT status... No way they would waste him on a 1PM PPV
That’s the wierd thing about Ank. He hasn’t really been the Khabib equivalent at LHW in terms of grappling. We expect him to be a dominant grappler bc he’s a Dagi, and I think he has some of those skills, but he just doesn’t know how to use them in an MMA context in a way that everyone expects. I truly think he’ll try banging with Alex.
the problem is fighting in abu dhabi may affect who is favored to win the fight, not just who is fan favorite. non-muslim fighters would be wise to avoid fighting there.Fuck Abu Dhabi, why should a champ making his 2nd defense have to fight somewhere Ankalaev would be the favorite? If Ank wants it he should fight sooner and at the very least in neutral territory.