Overview
- Alex Pereira reclaimed the UFC light heavyweight title with an 80-second first-round TKO of Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320 in October.
- Manager Ali Abdelaziz says Ankalaev entered with injured ribs and went nearly 40 days without meaningful training, receiving injections, cortisone and stem-cell treatment.
- Abdelaziz claims he urged Ankalaev to withdraw but the fighter insisted on competing, and he maintains the UFC knew of the condition and treatments.
- The manager is asking the UFC to credit Ankalaev for keeping the main event intact and argues he is one win from another title shot, even floating Carlos Ulberg as a next opponent.
- Pereira has dismissed injury-based excuses and taunted Ankalaev on social media, as separate reports note Pereira suffered a broken foot and has floated a Jon Jones bout, with Dana White indicating a preference for more light heavyweight business first.