UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Magomed Ankalaev may not immediately face Alex Pereira in a rematch for his first title defense.
Ankalaev claimed the UFC light heavyweight title by defeating Alex Pereira via unanimous decision at UFC 313 earlier this year. This victory extended Ankalaev`s impressive winning streak in the Octagon and put an end to Pereira`s undefeated run in the division.
Following UFC 313, there was strong talk of an immediate rematch, with both fighters reportedly agreeing verbally to a second fight later this year. However, Pereira`s recent period of inactivity has raised questions about whether he will be ready for an instant rematch.
If Alex Pereira is unavailable in the near future, the UFC matchmakers might seek a different opponent for Magomed Ankalaev`s initial title defense. A surprising name has emerged from the discussion, suggested by a former prominent figure in the UFC.
Josh Thomson Suggests Unexpected Challenger for Ankalaev
The UFC light heavyweight division features several high-profile fighters, including former champions Jamahal Hill and Jiri Prochazka. Prochazka recently secured a significant win over Hill at UFC 311, while Hill is scheduled to compete against Khalil Rountree Jr. next month.
Despite these names, another fighter is being considered for a potential title shot against Ankalaev.
During a recent episode of the Weighing In podcast, former UFC fighter Josh Thomson proposed Carlos Ulberg as the opponent for Ankalaev`s first title defense.
Thomson elaborated on his choice, highlighting the current landscape of the division: “What you have is Jamahal Hill coming off a loss, Jan Blachowicz coming off a loss, Aleksandar Rakic coming off a loss, Khalil Rountree Jr. coming off a loss… You’ve got Carlos Ulberg, that’s it, at number three. You have Jiri but Jiri can’t fight [in this timeframe or against Ankalaev specifically]. I mean, throw, I would say Ulberg, put him in there, see if Ankalaev will stand with him as well.”
He added, emphasizing the need for an engaging matchup for Ankalaev: “There’s nothing else you can do. I mean, we’re looking for that guy to bring an exciting fight to Ankalaev because right now, good luck trying to sell that.”
Carlos Ulberg recently defeated Jan Blachowicz at UFC London this year, extending his winning streak to eight consecutive fights inside the Octagon. Should Ulberg win a UFC title, he would join other successful graduates from Dana White`s Contender Series like Sean O`Malley and Jack Della Maddalena who have gone on to win UFC championships.
Ulberg`s winning streak includes notable victories over opponents such as Volkan Oezdemir, Alonzo Menifield, and Da-Un Jung. Following a loss in his UFC debut at UFC 259, Ulberg has been dominant, securing five of his wins by stoppage.
Pereira`s Social Media Incident and Other Potential Challengers
Speculation about Alex Pereira`s potential retirement was recently fueled by a cryptic message on his X account, which hinted at dissatisfaction with the UFC. Pereira later clarified that his account had been hacked and he was not responsible for the post, which had suggested retirement rather than an immediate rematch with Ankalaev.
Adding another dimension to the light heavyweight picture, heavyweight contender Jailton Almeida has also expressed interest in potentially returning to the light heavyweight division to challenge for the belt. Almeida recently secured his second consecutive first-round stoppage victory against Serghei Spivac at UFC 311.
As the UFC continues to plan the next steps for Magomed Ankalaev and the light heavyweight division, there are several potential opponents at the top. Given the current circumstances and recent suggestion, Carlos Ulberg could surprisingly find himself challenging for the title sooner than anticipated if the Alex Pereira rematch is delayed.
