Alex Pereira didn’t expect Khalil Rountree Jr. next, but Magomed ‘Ankalaev didn’t want to fight me’

Alex Pereira defends his UFC light heavyweight title next against Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307 on Oct. 5 in Salt Lake City, and admits he was as surprised as anyone with the booking.

Pereira said Saturday morning on his YouTube channel that he asked UFC to book him against Ankalaev after defending his belt against Jiri Prochazka at UFC 300, but the organization ultimately announced Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar Rakic for UFC 308, scheduled for Oct. 26 in Abu Dhabi. UFC announced Pereira vs. Rountree days later.

“I’ve always wanted to fight against Ankalaev and I’ve made it clear, but Ankalaev didn’t want to fight me,” Pereira said. “I don’t know the reason, if it was the location, if he didn’t want to fight. He isn’t the champion, he can’t pick anything. It’s the opportunity that shows up and he didn’t want it. He has his reasoning, I don’t know what it is. But I came here to tell you I’m not scared of anyone. Everyone knows my history and everything I’ve done, not only in MMA, but in kickboxing as well. It’s obvious that I want to fight this guy.

“I think he has made things difficult, but we’ll meet eventually.”

Pereira is a decorated kickboxer and sees the narratives being spun that Ankalaev would be a much harder test than Rountree, given his wrestling skills. However, Pereira feels more than ready for the task after training alongside Glover Teixeira and his team in Danbury.

“My desire to fight against [Ankalaev] and show what I can do, I’ve already said it here,” Pereira said. “I don’t know if I’ll win, I don’t know if I’ll lose. I say that in all my fights. For those who watch me, I’m a realistic guy. You can win, you can lose. But I’m here with the conviction I will win this fight, and that’s it. That’s how I think, and things have been working out. I think he should watch out for Rakic. He is talking a lot about me, that he’s going to knock me out and all that, but I think he should watch out with this fight. It’s a very dangerous fight for him. Maintain focus on this fight, because he is getting a tough opponent.”

Pereira, who rose as a star in the UFC in a short time by winning belts in two different weight classes, admits he “was also a bit surprised when they offered” Rountree as his next challenger and “honestly thought it would be Ankalaev,” but it doesn’t matter now.

“A lot of people say he’s ranked No. 8, I don’t know, but they are saying it messed up the UFC rankings,” Pereira said, “but I think he’s showing work and it’s going to be a good fight for both of us, as we’re both strikers, but also for those watching. I thought it was Ankalaev, but I think the organization sees that he doesn’t deliver good fights.

“They’re doing all this for you guys, to please you guys. The same way how I wasn’t ranked and things happened very fast, look at what you guys get whenever I fight. So I think they are thinking the same thing for Khalil, giving him this opportunity regardless of the ranking. I think it will be a good fight.”