Ankalaev 'Has A Date' For First UFC Title Defense
03/20/2025 10:07 AM
"Big Ank" is back.
Newly-crowned UFC light heavyweight champion, Magomed Ankalaev, claims to have already accepted a date and opponent for his first 205-pound title defense, expected to come against former division kingpin, Alex Pereira, at some point later this year.
Assuming "Poatan" isn't too busy with his extracurricular travel.
"I have a date and I accepted already, I hope my opponent will accept too," Ankalaev wrote on Twitter. "This time there will be no five rounds, I don't get paid by the hour. #BigANK."
Pereira has yet to respond but appears to be en route to UFC London.
Ankalaev defeated Pereira by way of unanimous decision atop the UFC 313 pay-per-view (PPV) fight card earlier this month in Las Vegas. No word yet on when or where the promotion will book their championship rematch, but this card still needs a headliner.
Pereira remains a slight betting underdog (see the betting line here).
