Former middleweight champion welcomed as potential opponent

Bouts with Ciryl Gane and Pereira also on radar

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev. [Getty Images]
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev. [Getty Images]

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev of Russia has expressed interest in a matchup with former middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis of South Africa, while also revealing he is open to moving up to heavyweight.

In a recent interview, Ankalaev said he would welcome a fight with Du Plessis if the South African moves up to light heavyweight. He said Du Plessis, who reached the top of the middleweight division, could be a natural opponent should he make the jump.

Ankalaev also raised the possibility of his own weight class move, saying he has ambitions beyond light heavyweight and would be willing to challenge at heavyweight. He named current heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane of France as a potential target.

He also said he remains interested in a rematch with Alex Pereira of Brazil, who handed him a loss, adding that he would be willing to fight Pereira at heavyweight if that is where the Brazilian competes.

The two met twice last year. Ankalaev defeated Pereira by decision at UFC 313 in March to claim the light heavyweight title, but lost it in their rematch at UFC 320 in October, suffering a first-round TKO defeat.

Then-light heavyweight challenger Ankalaev (right) fends off champion Pereira's attack at UFC 313 in March last year. Ankalaev won the bout to claim the title. [Getty Images]
Then-light heavyweight challenger Ankalaev (right) fends off champion Pereira's attack at UFC 313 in March last year. Ankalaev won the bout to claim the title. [Getty Images]

Ankalaev said he suffered an injury about a month before the UFC 320 rematch and was unable to train properly. He claimed Pereira knew about the injury and attacked aggressively from the opening round, though Pereira has denied that.

Ankalaev bounced back in July, stopping Nikita Guskov by TKO in the fifth round. The light heavyweight title is currently held by Carlos Ulberg of New Zealand.

Ankalaev said he had hoped to compete in October but could not find a suitable opponent, and is now targeting a December bout. A third fight with Pereira remains an option, but his priority is reclaiming the championship belt.


yjc@heraldcorp.com