Speculation is rising that UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Magomed Ankalaev`s first title defense may not be an immediate rematch against Alex Pereira, contrary to initial expectations.
Magomed Ankalaev became the new UFC light heavyweight champion by defeating Alex Pereira via unanimous decision at UFC 313 earlier this year. This victory concluded Pereira`s notable reign and marked his first defeat in the light heavyweight division, while extending Ankalaev`s impressive winning streak in the Octagon.
Following UFC 313, discussions about a rematch between Ankalaev and Pereira were widespread, with both fighters verbally agreeing to a potential second bout later this year. However, Pereira`s current break from fighting has led to questions about whether he will receive the immediate rematch he was seeking.
Should Pereira remain inactive for a significant period, UFC matchmakers might explore alternative opponents for Ankalaev`s inaugural title defense. A former UFC fighter has recently suggested a prominent name that hasn`t been widely considered in recent months.
Former UFC Fighter Josh Thomson Names a Surprising Contender for Ankalaev
The UFC light heavyweight division features several key contenders, including former champions Jamahal Hill and Jiri Prochazka. Prochazka recently delivered a decisive finish against Hill at UFC 311, while Hill is set to face former title challenger Khalil Rountree Jr. next month.
Yet, another fighter has been brought into the conversation as a potential challenger for Ankalaev`s championship.
During a recent episode of the “Weighing In” podcast, former UFC standout Josh Thomson put forward Carlos Ulberg as a potential opponent for Ankalaev`s first title defense. Thomson highlighted the recent losses among several top-ranked fighters in 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. Dominick Reyes is number eight, he’s got a win. You’ve got Carlos Ulberg, that’s it, at number three. You have Jiri but Jiri can’t fight. I mean, throw, I would say Ulberg, put him in there, see if Ankalaev will stand with him as well. 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.”
Ulberg most recently defeated Jan Blachowicz at UFC London earlier this year, extending his impressive professional winning streak to eight fights. If Ulberg were to win a UFC title, he would join the growing list of Dana White’s Contender Series participants who have claimed UFC gold, including Sean O’Malley and Jack Della Maddalena.
Throughout his UFC career, Ulberg has secured victories over notable opponents such as Volkan Oezdemir, Alonzo Menifield, and Da-Un Jung. After experiencing a loss in his UFC debut at UFC 259, Ulberg has been on a dominant run, with five of his subsequent wins coming by stoppage.
Alex Pereira Social Media Incident Fueled Retirement Speculation
Pereira`s X (formerly Twitter) account was recently hacked, resulting in a cryptic post that hinted at frustration with the UFC hierarchy. Pereira later clarified that he was not responsible for the message, which suggested retirement rather than pursuing an immediate rematch with Ankalaev.
Additionally, heavyweight contender Jailton Almeida has also called out Ankalaev, indicating a willingness to potentially return to the light heavyweight division to compete for the championship. Almeida recently earned his second consecutive first-round stoppage victory by defeating Serghei Spivac at UFC 311.
As UFC matchmakers continue to evaluate potential opponents for Ankalaev and the light heavyweight division, there are several viable options at the top. Carlos Ulberg could potentially be granted a title opportunity sooner than many observers might have anticipated.
Gareth Pendleton