Can Ankalaev’s Wrestling Neutralise Pereira’s Striking at UFC 313?
Former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker has weighed in on the upcoming UFC light heavyweight title fight between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev. He offers a crucial piece of advice to the Russian contender: wrestle, wrestle, and wrestle.
Pereira, the defending champion, has built a fearsome reputation as one of the most devastating strikers in UFC history with his spectacular knockouts inside the cage. However, his ability against wrestlers has never really been challenged in the UFC, making Ankalaev’s Sambo-based grappling a potential game changer in this matchup. So is Whittaker right? Should Ankalaev abandon striking exchanges and focus entirely on his wrestling?
Whittaker’s Take: “He needs to wrestle, otherwise he’s done”
During a recent analysis on the MMArcade podcast, former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker made it clear that Ankalaev shouldn’t try to stand and trade with Pereira.
“If he doesn’t wrestle, he’s done,” Whittaker stated. ““He needs to wrestle. He needs to wrestle as much as possible. I would be army-crawling at Pereira’s ankles if I were him.”
It’s a harsh but fair assessment. Pereira’s striking is on another level, and even though Ankalaev is a well-rounded fighter, his boxing-heavy approach could spell disaster against a kickboxing legend like Poatan. Whittaker’s advice mirrors the game plan that Jan Blachowicz used in their fight, where he mixed in takedowns early to disrupt Periera’s rhythm. The question is: can Ankalaev effectively execute this strategy, or will he fall into the same trap as many others before him?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H5-7PeYdow
Ankalaev’s Wrestling: A Key to Victory?
Magomed Ankalaev comes from a combat Sambo background, a discipline that has produced some of the most dominant wrestlers in MMA history. While he’s been known for his precise counterstriking, his grappling is underrated and could be his biggest asset against Pereira.
Key strengths in Ankalaev’s wrestling:
- Chain Wrestling: He can transition for single-leg to double-leg takedowns seamlessly
- Top Pressure: Once Ankalaev gets on top, his heavy hips make it difficult for opponents to escape.
- Submission Defence: He’s never been submitted in his MMA career
- Control Time: If he can hold Pereira down, he’ll drain his gas tank
However, while Ankalaev has the tools to dominate on the ground, he hasn’t always used them. His recent fights have seen him rely more on his striking, which could be a dangerous choice against someone as powerful as Pereira.
How This Fight Could Play Out
Scenario 1: Ankalaev Wrestles Early and Often
If Ankalaev follows Whittaker’s advice and relentlessly pursues takedowns, he could grind out Pereira over five rounds, wearing him down and potentially finishing him via ground-and-pound or submission.
Scenario 2: Ankalaev Strikes Too Much and Gets KO’d
If Ankalaev gets too comfortable standing, Pereira only needs one clean shot to end the fight. We’ve seen this time and time again—his power is fight-ending.
Scenario 3: Pereira’s Takedown Defense Holds Up
If Pereira has truly improved his grappling, he might be able to keep the fight standing and slowly pick Ankalaev apart. Over time, this could lead to a highlight-reel knockout similar to his past fights.
Final Prediction: Will Ankalaev Listen to Whittaker?
While Ankalaev has the skills to beat Pereira, the real question is whether he will commit to a wrestling-heavy strategy. If he does, we could see a new light heavyweight champion crowned at UFC 313. If not, Pereira’s power and precision might be too much to handle.
Either way, Robert Whittaker’s advice is clear—wrestling is the key to victory. Now, it’s up to Ankalaev to execute it.
What do you think? Should Ankalaev wrestle his way to victory, or does Pereira have enough tools to defend and dominate?
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