Tom Aspinall has expertly revealed how Magomed Ankalaev can defeat Alex Pereira at UFC 313.
Ankalaev challenges Pereira for the UFC light heavyweight title in Las Vegas this weekend to determine the best 205-pound fighter.
Pereira has held the belt for almost two years now since stopping Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295 in November 2023.
The Brazilian from Sao Paulo then defended the light heavyweight strap three times in what turned out to be a remarkable 2024, with many UFC fans branding him Fighter of the Year.
However, Ankalaev, who possesses elite ground game skills and wrestling, has the potential to drag Pereira into deep waters that he is yet to enter during his title reign.
This is something UFC interim heavyweight champion Aspinall believes the Russian must take advantage of to win gold in Dana White’s promotion for the first time.
“Ankalaev, he’s a lefty. Pereira is the right hander,” the Briton told TNT Sports.
“Something I don’t like about Ankalaev is that he’s a little bit too willing to strike for me.”
UFC stars, including ex-welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, have predicted the UFC 313 main event and believe that Ankalaev will fail to get past Pereira if he stands toe-to-toe with the Brazilian.
“In my opinion, what [Ankalaev] should be doing,” Aspinall added.
“He’s got great kicks from the left hand side, he throws a lot of body kicks as well.
“What he does really well is the straight left. But in my opinion, this is just my personal opinion.
“These (faints a left kick) have to be distractions for this (attempts a takedown).
“…The strikes from me have to be to set this up (attempts another takedown).
“If he is striking he should be faking the legs first and then coming up.
“He’s got to show him that he can take him down at any time before he punches.”
Aspinall, who is waiting for an undisputed heavyweight clash with Jon Jones, could face Pereira in the future if the Brazilian wins at UFC 313.
Pereira has revealed this month a hit-list after the Las Vegas card that includes moving up to heavyweight, before stepping into the squared circle to fight Oleksandr Usyk.
Ankalaev has made easy work of several top UFC light heavyweights en route to his second title shot with the promotion in the last four years.
His first came against Jan Blachowicz in December 2022, but the bout was declared a split draw after five rounds, therefore the 205lb strap was left vacant.
The 32-year-old has been considered by several MMA fans as Pereira’s toughest opponent yet, but the majority of UFC fighters, including Israel Adesanya, disagree.
“I’m going to go with Pereira because of momentum,” Adesanya said, predicting the headline act.
Adesanya has fought ‘Poatan’ four times during his mixed martial arts career, and is the last person to defeat him.
“He is just on a tear right now. I like the way he’s even able to do it with the amount of travel he does,” the Nigerian-born New Zealander added.
“I think it’s going to go leg kicks, leg kicks, leg kicks, left hook. Alex Pereira by KO over two-and-a-half rounds.
“He’s going to knock him out in the fourth or fifth round.”
Blachowicz, whose last two UFC fights have come against Pereira and Ankalaev says the latter needs to believe in himself to get a victory over the champion.
“If Ankalaev fights, he’s going to lose. He needs to do more. He’s a good fighter, but that style won’t work against Pereira.
“He has to believe in what he’s doing, not just fight carefully to avoid punches…
“Three fights ago, I would have picked Ankalaev, but now Pereira.”
UFC 313 also sees Justin Gaethje take on Rafael Fiziev in what is set to be a thrilling co-main event in Las Vegas.
Meanwhile, Jalin Turner faces Ignacio Bahamondes in the lightweight division and strawweight Amanda Lemos fights Iasmin Lucindo.
