Magomed Ankalaev admits he ignored team's pleas before Alex Pereira KO

Magomed Ankalaev has acknowledged that he ignored his team's advice and fought Alex Pereira at UFC 320 despite being in compromised health, a decision he now views as a costly mistake. The Russian light heavyweight was dealing with specific health issues before the rematch and was urged by his manager Ali Abdelaziz and his coaching staff to withdraw, but Ankalaev proceeded anyway. The gamble backfired spectacularly when Pereira knocked him out in just 80 seconds to reclaim the title that Ankalaev had won decisively in their first encounter at UFC 313 in March 2025.

"I had some specific health issues at the time, and I was advised by many not to even go out, to pull out of the fight," Ankalaev told MMA Junkie. "I decided that I was well enough to go on; I decided not to listen to anybody. I made a mistake, and sometimes you have to pay for your mistake." The 20-2 fighter views his upcoming bout against Bogdan Guskov at UFC Abu Dhabi on July 25 as his opportunity to begin the climb back toward championship contention, though he appears reluctant to dwell on the circumstances of his devastating loss.