Did Magomed Ankalaev's injured rib really cost him the fight, or is it just an excuse? That's the question on everyone's mind after Alex Pereira's swift victory at UFC 320. It's a rematch that saw Pereira brutally reclaim the light heavyweight title, knocking out Ankalaev in under two minutes. Months before, Ankalaev handed Pereira his first light heavyweight defeat.
Following the fight, Ankalaev and his team revealed that a broken rib during training significantly hampered his preparation. But here's where it gets controversial: Pereira isn't buying it.
In a recent appearance on the Connect Cast podcast, Pereira didn't hold back. He stated, "I’ve always been injured. And injuries, it’s all the same… If you saw my injuries right now, fighting him today, he’d feel like s—. He wouldn’t even come back to fight again, he’d be like ‘D—, what am I even doing in this organization?’. He’d quit!" He even offered to show his medical results, suggesting his injuries were far more severe.
Is Pereira downplaying Ankalaev's injury, or is he simply dismissing what he perceives as an excuse?
This isn't the first time we've seen fighters downplay injuries, but it raises an important question: How much does a fighter's health, or lack thereof, truly impact the outcome?
And this is the part most people miss: Pereira's victory has solidified his position as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters. While a trilogy fight with Ankalaev might be in the cards, Ankalaev would need to win at least one fight to make a case for it. However, Pereira has also hinted at a move to heavyweight, potentially challenging the likes of Tom Aspinall and Jon Jones.
What do you think? Was Ankalaev's injury a legitimate factor, or is Pereira right to dismiss it? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
