‘They don’t know my ground’

Alex Pereira will not be afraid of Magomed Ankalaev’s floor recreation.

UFC mild heavyweight champion Pereira (10-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) is concentrating on a return in summer season, and expects to run issues again with Jiri Prochazka subsequent. Pereira knocked out Prochazka to say the vacant 205-pound title at UFC 295 – a stoppage Prochazka argued was too early.

Pereira has since defend his title as soon as by knocking out Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 in April. On the identical night time, Prochazka (30-4-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) rebounded with a knockout of his personal in opposition to Aleksandar Rakic.

“I’m not the man to name names. I’m not the man to choose the struggle,” Pereira informed Sportsnet by means of an interpreter. “(I’ll struggle) whoever (the UFC) need me to struggle, however the title that’s on the desk proper now could be Jiri Prochazka. We’re nonetheless in negotiations. I want to struggle round August, however nothing concrete but.”

Though Prochazka seems to be on Pereira’s radar first, “Poatan” wouldn’t draw back from preventing Ankalaev (19-1-1 MMA, 10-1-1 UFC), who many see as his hardest take a look at within the division.

Ankalaev is unbeaten in his previous 12 fights, most not too long ago scoring a Efficiency of the Evening knockout of Johnny Walker in January.

“All people talks about Ankalaev, talks about his floor, however they don’t know my floor,” Pereira mentioned. “It’s not even to point out (my floor recreation). (I) simply float. However I’d like to point out a while.”