It’s been weeks since Alex Pereira defeated Magomed Ankalaev in under 90 seconds, but the conversation around it hasn’t died down till now. For most fans, it was another high point in Pereira’s career. For many who have watched Ankalaev’s rise, however, something felt odd. For a fighter who was previously regarded as the next long-term light heavyweight king, such an ending did not add up. Something, many believe, was wrong before the first punch even landed.

So, the focus has now switched from whether Alex Pereira is unstoppable to whether Magomed Ankalaev deserves another chance. The calls for a rematch have grown louder, and one voice has given them real weight. Islam Makhachev, the guy looking to secure his second title at UFC 322, says his compatriot wasn’t at full strength that night and still believes Ankalaev is the more complete fighter.

Islam Makhachev claims Magomed Ankalaev is a better fighter than Alex Pereira

When asked about the fight, Islam Makhachev responded without hesitation. “Everybody told me Ankalaev wasn’t training the last three months,” he recalled. “He had a rib injury. When you don’t have sparring three times a week, it’s hard to fight.” According to him, Ankalaev refused to withdraw not out of pride, but because he did not want to derail the main event.

“He just didn’t want to pull out,” Makhachev further told Adin Ross in the interview. “He wanted to save the main event.” The Dagestani champion did not dismiss Pereira’s strength but remained strong on where the edge rests. “He’s good, Pereira,” Makhachev acknowledged. “But I believe Ankalaev has more skills.”

In his opinion, the Brazilian’s knockouts may create headlines, but Magomed Ankalaev’s balance, technique, and control make him the better fighter when healthy. However, ‘Poatan’ would like to disagree with the injury narrative. Speaking on Connect Cast a few weeks ago, the light heavyweight champion dismissed the injury talk as an excuse. “I don’t know what he had,” Pereira stated.

“If you see my injuries today, fighting him today, he would feel like s—. He would leave this organization. He would quit, man.” It wasn’t arrogance; it was defiance, a reminder that every fighter comes in injured, but champions persevere. Still, for fans, the disagreement simply adds fuel to the flames. Magomed Ankalaev may have fallen quickly, but the sense of unfinished business remains.

Islam Makhachev, one of the sport’s most renowned voices, has called for a rematch, so it’s no longer just fan talk. The question now is whether the UFC will allow Magomed Ankalaev to prove what he couldn’t in 80 seconds: that he might be the man to solve the Alex Pereira problem. Well, another UFC fighter also believes it to be true.

Fedor Emelianenko backs Ankalaev for a rematch

Fedor Emelianenko’s voice carries weight that transcends generations. When he speaks, it’s not just as a retired legend but as someone who has witnessed every facet of what fighting truly means; glory, suffering, and redemption. And in Magomed Ankalaev, he seems to recognize something familiar: quiet conviction.

‘The Last Emperor’ feels that the loss to Alex Pereira was a wake-up call rather than the end. A storm was delayed but not completely dismissed. “I know Magomed personally,” Emelianenko explained, his tone more mentor than analyst. “Life goes on, no worries. Everything is still ahead of him.” It wasn’t empty reassurance; it was the calm confidence that only a veteran like Fedor could have.

To him, Magomed Ankalaev is still the true heir to the light heavyweight title, a warrior who has slipped but not fallen too far. As a result, ‘The Last Emperor’ insists that the path back is still wide open. “He just needs to make the right conclusions,” Emelianenko said. “Now, it’s going to be harder for him to be champion again… but he can do it.”

That last sentence lingered, not only because of belief, but because it came from someone who had been through the grind. The 49-year-old believes that resilience, not talent, is what defines greatness. And, in his opinion, Magomed Ankalaev still possesses the unique combination of humility, work ethic, and grit required to recapture everything that was lost in those 80 seconds.