It’s a fascinating championship rematch that offers Pereira the chance to make amends after losing the belt on the scorecards via unanimous decision last time out. For Ankalaev, meanwhile, it’s an opportunity to cement himself as the UFC’s premier 205-pound athlete by handing Pereira back-to-back losses for the first time in his MMA career.
The matchup has captured the imagination of legendary boxing trainer Teddy Atlas, who offered his take on the return bout between the pair, and admitted that it’s a matchup he can see going either way.
“Pereira can do it because he’s got that kind of talent, that kind of explosiveness,” he told Grosvenor Casino.
“One mistake with him, and he hits you with that left hook, either hand he punches to be honest, but man, that left hook is really, really special – short, it’s explosive, it’s powerful, and he’s athletic with his kicks. You can’t sleep on that guy. He’s so dangerous.”
Despite laying out all of the weapons at Pereira’s disposal, Atlas admitted that, if push came to shove, he’d side with the man who won the first meeting, as he picked Ankalaev to edge it once again.
“I picked Ankalaev to win the first time, by the way,” he pointed out.
“And the reason I picked them to win was – and I said this because I was working ESPN for that fight – was that he’s controlled about his aggression. Even with the striking, he’s controlled about his aggression.
“He has the kind of temperament that really bodes well when you’re fighting a dangerous talent like Pereira. He has that temperament. He’s not gonna get over-anxious. He’s not gonna get desperate. He’s gonna be very contained, and that’s what you need.
“If he can be contained again and then eventually get to his forte on the ground where he can get to his wrestling, I think he could do it again. I think he probably will do it again.”
