What Alex Pereira Must Change in a Rematch with Magomed Ankalaev

In a highly anticipated matchup, Alex Pereira faced Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 for the Light Heavyweight title. After five rounds, the judges awarded a unanimous decision victory to Magomed Ankalaev. Despite being a slight underdog, Ankalaev’s performance was convincing enough to secure the belt. Many observers, however, believed the fight was closer than the judges scored it. Pereira himself acknowledged that there were aspects of his game that needed improvement. Now, with the UFC expected to schedule a rematch between the two, what should Alex Pereira do to achieve success against Magomed Ankalaev?

Avoiding the Clinch Against the Cage

Insanity is repeating the same thing and expecting a different result. Pereira must change his approach in this next fight to gain an advantage. First, he needs to improve his ability to escape the clinch against the cage. In the later rounds, Ankalaev controlled Pereira by pressing him against the cage, where Pereira struggled to break free. This allowed Ankalaev to rack up valuable control time, which ultimately influenced the judges’ decision. To counter this, Pereira should focus on escaping the clinch by using leverage-based techniques to create space and spin out of danger. He should also work on incorporating footwork drills to stay off the cage and avoid getting trapped in compromising positions.

Maintaining Elite Takedown Defense

Pereira’s takedown defense was impressive in the first fight, successfully stuffing every attempt by Ankalaev. However, he must maintain this level of defense in the rematch, as Ankalaev’s ground game remains a significant threat. If the fight hits the mat, Ankalaev is especially dangerous in half guard, where he can implement devastating ground-and-pound. Pereira’s ability to keep the fight standing is crucial to his success, as he excels in striking exchanges. To ensure this, Pereira should continue working on his sprawl and scrambling techniques while also improving his ability to regain his feet if taken down. Staying composed and using the cage to get back up quickly can neutralize Ankalaev’s grappling advantage and prevent him from dictating the pace on the ground.

Improving Striking Defense

Another key adjustment for Pereira is tightening his striking defense. He tends to lower his right hand, leaving himself vulnerable to overhands and hooks. Ankalaev’s southpaw stance made it easier for him to capitalize on this weakness, exposing Pereira’s defense in the early rounds. Although Pereira has improved his striking defense since being knocked out by Israel Adesanya, he needs to be even more disciplined against Ankalaev. Pereira should focus on maintaining a high guard, especially when closing distance, and work on incorporating more head movement to avoid counters. Additionally, sharpening his ability to check kicks and read Ankalaev’s feints will allow Pereira to stay safer in the pocket while creating opportunities to land his own power shots.

Finding His Flow State Faster

Pereira is at his best when he enters his flow state, a zone where he gains confidence, reads his opponent’s movements and controls the stand-up exchanges. Unfortunately, in the first fight, Pereira struggled to find this rhythm, resulting in a tentative approach where he spent most of the fight backing up. When Pereira is reactive rather than proactive, he allows his opponents to dictate the pace, which was evident against Ankalaev. To succeed in the rematch, Pereira must enter this mindset faster and be more aggressive. With improved takedown defense and better clinch escapes, Pereira can afford to hold his ground and apply pressure, creating opportunities to dictate the pace of the fight. Moreover, Pereira’s leg kicks and sharp counter-strikes can help him disrupt Ankalaev’s rhythm, allowing him to take control earlier in the fight.

Conclusion

If Alex Pereira wants to reclaim the Light Heavyweight title, he needs to make key adjustments in his clinch work, takedown defense, striking defense, and overall approach. Each of these areas will be critical in determining the outcome of the rematch. Pereira’s ability to adapt and implement these changes can neutralize Ankalaev’s strengths and give him a significant edge. With these improvements, Pereira has a strong chance of reversing the result and reclaiming his status as the division’s champion. The rematch promises to be a thrilling encounter, but Pereira’s adjustments will be the determining factor in whether he walks away with the belt.