Ankalaev discusses potential rematch with Pereira

Magomed Ankalaev has shared his thoughts on Joe Rogan's recent comments about Alex Pereira's health. This follows Ankalaev's victory over Pereira at UFC 313, where he became the new light heavyweight champion. Rogan had mentioned that Pereira might have fought with a broken hand and norovirus, raising questions about Pereira's unusual performance in the match. Ankalaev reacted to Rogan's claims, emphasizing that all fighters face challenges before entering the ring. He stated that he was offered a rematch against Pereira for August but is open to fighting anyone else if Pereira is not ready. Ankalaev highlighted that every fighter has their struggles and no one is at 100%. Despite the injury claims, Ankalaev noted that Pereira has a history of fighting through pain, referring to Pereira's earlier match at UFC 300 where he competed with a broken toe. There’s also the possibility of facing another contender. Carlos Ulberg recently won against Jan Blachowicz at UFC London and is on an eight-fight win streak. While Ankalaev praised Ulberg's performance, he still believes Pereira deserves the next title shot. However, Ankalaev is prepared to compete against Ulberg if Pereira decides to take a break from fighting.