Joe Rogan: Why UFC champ Alex Pereira hasn’t signed on to fight Magomed Ankalaev

January 6, 2025 1:50 pm ET

Joe Rogan believes UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira’s targeted date to return will cause Magomed Ankalaev problems.

Ankalaev (19-1-1 MMA, 10-1-1 UFC) is expected to be next in line, but he was recently dismissed by Pereira (12-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) as the next title challenger. With “Poatan” looking to fight again in March, Ankalaev might not be able to make that date due to observing Ramadan, which takes place during the entire month.

“He’s supposed to be fighting Ankalaev,” Rogan said on a recent episode of his “Joe Rogan Experience” podcast. “Ankalaev is f*cking very dangerous, and he’s the No. 1 contender, and he’s been on a winning streak for a long-ass time. He’s only got one draw, and that was to Jan Blachowicz, who was the former champion. So, he’s at the top of the heap, and he’s been waiting for a title shot for a long time. But he’s been talking a lot of sh*t, and Alex doesn’t like that he talks sh*t.

“So, he’s like, ‘F*ck him, make him wait.’ Alex just said that he’s going to fight in March and that he’s not going to fight Ankalaev. Because If he’s fighting in March, when is Ramadan? Ankalaev wouldn’t be able to fight in March. He’s got to go through the entire month of Ramadan preparing for a world title fight? February 28th, and it ends March 29th. That’s exactly during the time period when he’s going to fight.”

Despite Pereira’s reluctance, Ankalaev’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, recently told MMA Junkie that he’s confident his fighter will get the light heavyweight title shot.

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