Fight week hype spilled over as Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev turned a respectful rivalry into a headline-grabbing spat: a tense run-in at the UFC Performance Institute, Pereira calling the online barbs “not really him” (i.e., managed trash talk), and Ankalaev floating “greasing” chatter about their first meeting. Both camps tell different stories—and the rematch build just caught fire.
What happened (short & clear)
-
UFC PI encounter: Pereira says Ankalaev “talks online and disappears in person.” Ankalaev counters that he “lost respect” for Pereira over how the encounter played out. Clips of the exchange and competing interview versions are circulating.
-
“Fake trash talk”: Pereira claims the tone of Ankalaev’s social posts doesn’t sound like him, hinting at third-party scripting.
-
“Greasing” talk: Ankalaev suggested Pereira may have been “slippery” in the first fight. That’s an allegation, not an established fact; no commission finding has validated it.
Editorial note: Accusations like “greasing” are claims by athletes and, as of now, unsubstantiated by regulators. We’re reporting them as statements, not facts.
Competitive context
-
First fight: Ankalaev won a decision and left with the light heavyweight belt, setting up a high-stakes return bout.
-
The rematch: Booked as the headliner in Las Vegas, with a week full of quotes, reposts, and escalating rhetoric from both sides.
What each side is saying
Alex Pereira (“Poatan”)
-
Says Ankalaev’s online persona is manufactured, not how he acts face-to-face.
-
Insists he didn’t avoid the encounter and has wanted the fight all along; has hinted he wasn’t at his absolute best in the first meeting.
Magomed Ankalaev
-
Says he “lost respect” for Pereira after the PI episode and calls the Brazilian’s account untrue.
-
Raises the “greasing” question regarding fight one and promises an even clearer performance in the rematch; his team has downplayed Pereira’s threat as that of an aging kickboxer.
Timeline at a glance
-
First meeting (earlier this year): Ankalaev wins by decision and takes the title.
-
Weeks after: callouts and reply posts build noise for a rematch.
-
Fight week (Las Vegas):
-
PI run-in goes public; dueling narratives hit interviews and socials.
-
“Fake trash talk” claim from Pereira.
-
“Greasing” chatter from Ankalaev draws fan pushback for its late timing.
-
-
This weekend: rematch on PPV in Las Vegas.
Why this matters (beyond drama)
-
Narrative pressure: Public accusations raise the emotional temperature and can force tactical adjustments—more clinch/wrestling? More long-range kickboxing?
-
Mental game: The fighter who keeps a cool center tends to execute the simple stuff better: jab, distance control, first-layer TDD, and clean exits.
-
Title lane: The winner shapes the division’s next title storyline and PPV calendar.
Tactical keys we learned from fight one (speed read)
-
Ankalaev: excels at chain wrestling, fence pressure, and buying time with control; rear-hand timing can tilt rounds.
-
Pereira: carries fight-changing power and threatens front-headlock/guillotine when opponents level-change. His best board is center cage, clean striking, with submission snapshots during entries.
(Style read, not a prediction.)
How to follow
-
Event: Pereira vs. Ankalaev II — Las Vegas, this Saturday (main event).
-
U.S. broadcast: ESPN+/PPV (check local listings elsewhere).
-
Tip: weigh-in day is where tone can swing—watch the face-off for tells on tempo and distance plans.
The Pereira vs. Ankalaev controversy just turbo-charged fight week: PI friction, “fake trash talk,” and unproven “greasing” talk turned a technical rematch into a psychological chess match. When the cage door closes, it comes back to three levers: center control, timing, and transition discipline. Whoever owns those wins more than the narrative—they win the night.
-
Comment: which lands heavier on fight night psyche—“fake trash talk” claims or “greasing” chatter?
-
Subscribe: get our round-by-round preview and post-fight matchmaking in your inbox.