We could sit here and debate all day whether or not Alex Pereira’s unprecedented title defense schedule finally caught up with him, whether Ankalaev neutralized him with even the mere threat of the takedown and some solid striking tactics, or if maybe this is the moment where a lifetime of combat sports competition is finally reaching an inevitable decline.
Only Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) knows the real answer about why he performed is a largely uncharacteristic manner against Ankalaev, but a rematch would certainly provide perspective.
To be clear: It’s not as though Pereira humiliated himself. There’s a sizeable camp of people out there who believe Pereira won Round 1, Round 3 and Round 5 against Ankalaev and should’ve kept his belt, but none of the judges agreed or scored it as such.
It’s a tricky one. Pereira di