On Saturday evening, UFC 320 will take place in Las Vegas, featuring a rematch for the light heavyweight title between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira. Ankalaev aims to confirm that his previous victory wasn’t a fluke, while Pereira is determined to retrieve his championship and further his Hall of Fame legacy.
What strategies could Ankalaev employ to make it 2-0 against Pereira? And how must “Poatan” alter his approach this time to emerge victorious? Let’s dive into the details.
Paths to Victory for Magomed Ankalaev
Although Ankalaev comes from Dagestan with a combat sambo background, he isn’t your typical Dagestani fighter. While he is capable of executing takedowns, his true strength lies in striking, as evidenced by his statistics: less than one takedown per 15 minutes with just a 22 percent success rate. In essence, Ankalaev is not a top-tier wrestler but rather a competent one who employs a mix of skills to keep his opponents off balance.
During his first bout against Pereira, Ankalaev struggled with takedowns, failing on all twelve attempts. His win wasn’t due to successful grappling but rather a well-calibrated striking strategy, where he landed the more impactful shots. Additionally, he controlled the pace and flow of the match by using failed takedown attempts to smother Pereira against the cage. This performance, albeit lacking excitement, was thorough.
Ankalaev’s overarching strategy involves pressuring Pereira, landing significant strikes, and neutralizing Pereira’s offense. To enhance his performance, Ankalaev should work on countering Pereira’s low calf kicks more effectively, as these kicks were damaging in their previous fight. Near the fight’s conclusion, Ankalaev had some success with counters, and he should aim to integrate this tactic earlier in their rematch.
Paths to Victory for Alex Pereira
In the wake of his first loss, Pereira is the one who needs to adapt for the rematch. Fortunately, the adjustments needed are minimal. He is already a complete fighter with an explosive punch, a precise jab, and some of the most effective low kicks in the sport. His defensive wrestling is also underrated. Theoretically, this should pose significant challenges for Ankalaev, yet he found it difficult in their first encounter due to Pereira’s lack of urgency.
Pereira typically waits for fights to unfold, using his jab and low kicks to lure his opponents into giving him openings. However, against Ankalaev, this strategy backfired. With Ankalaev not responding aggressively to the calf kicks and keeping Pereira on the defensive, Pereira found himself unable to capitalize. As the fight progressed, Ankalaev increasingly took the initiative, allowing him to control the bout.
Looking ahead, Pereira must adopt a more proactive stance. He should aim to take the fight to Ankalaev, utilizing his jab more effectively. Ankalaev’s southpaw stance made it difficult for Pereira to use his lead hand in their previous fight, but this has to shift if he hopes to unlock more significant power punches. Aiming for a combination striking approach could counter Ankalaev’s typical one-off attacks.
Despite the competitive nature of their first bout, this rematch raises numerous questions. Did Pereira underestimate Ankalaev? Was he underprepared? On Ankalaev’s side, how did Ramadan impact his training? Now that he’s the champion, will we see a different fighter? Each variable could influence the outcome of this match, adding layers of intrigue that weren’t present the first time.
In summary, though there’s uncertainty about the victor, it’s clear how the fight may unfold. Ankalaev is likely to enter with more aggression, ready to assert himself from the start. Conversely, Pereira appears more focused this time, unwilling to play it safe. The stage is set for a fiery encounter, and while Pereira’s power is notable, Ankalaev’s resilience should not be underestimated. Ultimately, I’m leaning towards Ankalaev for the win.
Prediction: Magomed Ankalaev defeats Alex Pereira by KO (punch) — 2:37, Round 2.
