“Is He Washed Up?” – Robert Whittaker Predicts a Brutal Ending for Alex Pereira in Ankalaev Rematch!
Robert Whittaker has made a bold prediction about Alex Pereira’s chances in a potential rematch with Magomed Ankalaev—and it’s not looking good for the former champion.
The two light heavyweight titans clashed in a high-stakes battle for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship at UFC 313 in Las Vegas earlier this month. The bout ended in disappointment for Pereira, as Ankalaev dominated the fight, securing a unanimous decision victory at the T-Mobile Arena.
Despite the loss, UFC President Dana White hinted at an immediate rematch. Both fighters have since expressed interest in running it back for another five-round war. But according to Whittaker, Pereira’s aura of invincibility is shattered, and a rematch could be an even bigger disaster.
The End of Pereira’s “Boogeyman” Aura?
Heading into UFC 313, Whittaker backed Pereira to win. However, after watching Ankalaev completely neutralize the former middleweight king, “The Reaper” has completely changed his stance.
On a recent episode of the MMArcade Podcast, Whittaker did not hold back, predicting an even worse outcome for Pereira if he steps back into the octagon with the Russian powerhouse.
“I think the hype and confidence train that Pereira had—this idea that if he touches you, you’re going to go out—is now moot-ish because Ankalaev didn’t die.”
Whittaker elaborated that Ankalaev’s durability against Pereira’s feared striking has completely flipped the mental dynamic between them. Instead of fearing Pereira’s legendary knockout power, Ankalaev now knows he can absorb the Brazilian’s best shots and keep moving forward.
“He didn’t go to sleep when Alex punched him. I think it gave him so much confidence that it’s almost lent itself to why he’s asking for that rematch straight away.”
Ankalaev, once hesitant about Pereira’s devastating power, now sees him as “very beatable,” according to Whittaker.
“All the boogeyman vibes, all the mysteries and uncertainties are now gone. I can beat him. He is very beatable. He is human, like anybody else.”
The Australian superstar firmly believes that if the rematch happens, Ankalaev will dominate even more convincingly.
“I honestly think Ankalaev does better. I think it’s not as close as it just was. I don’t see the second fight going any differently.”
Is Pereira Making a Mistake by Pushing for a Rematch?
The immediate rematch strategy is often a double-edged sword. Fighters like Israel Adesanya have successfully bounced back in quick-turnaround rematches. However, others, including Kamaru Usman and Max Holloway, have struggled when trying to correct their mistakes too soon.
Pereira’s aggressive approach could spell disaster. If Ankalaev has already figured him out, fighting again without major tactical adjustments could lead to an even more one-sided defeat.
This raises an important question: Should Pereira take more time to evolve his game instead of rushing into a rematch?
Robert Whittaker’s Next Move: A Battle With Sean Strickland?
While the MMA world debates Pereira vs. Ankalaev 2, Whittaker has his own future to consider.
The former UFC middleweight champion hasn’t fought since Khamzat Chimaev choked him out at UFC 308 last October. Now, he’s eyeing a big-name return—and he has a specific opponent in mind.
Following Roman Dolidze’s win over Marvin Vettori, the Georgian fighter called out Whittaker. However, Whittaker was quick to shut it down.
“I’m trying to fight a top-five guy, dude. Join the queue. I wanna fight Sean [Strickland]. International Fight Week.”
International Fight Week is one of the UFC’s biggest annual events, and UFC 317 in June is shaping up to be a stacked card. But there’s one problem: Strickland is recovering from the absolute war he endured against Dricus du Plessis at UFC 312.
If Strickland can recover in time, Whittaker believes their long-awaited showdown makes perfect sense.
“I think Strickland makes a good argument to have because I feel like we’ve both been in that top sort of pond for a while circling each other.”
“For whatever reason, we haven’t been matched up, but we’ve both been in proximity for a while. It’s most likely the fight to make.”
Whittaker sees Strickland’s unique style as a puzzle worth solving, making this a potential technical chess match.
“I look at his style, and I find it curious. I find it exciting to try to work out.”
What’s Next for the Light Heavyweight Division?
With Alex Pereira pushing for a rematch, Robert Whittaker targeting Strickland, and the rest of the 185 and 205-pound divisions heating up, the coming months promise fireworks.
Will Dana White book Pereira vs. Ankalaev 2?
Can Whittaker secure his desired fight with Strickland?
Or will unexpected matchups shake up both divisions?
Stay tuned—because the UFC is about to explode with high-stakes drama!
A High-Stakes Battle at UFC 313
Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev clashed in a highly anticipated light heavyweight title bout at UFC 313 in Las Vegas. The fight ended in a shocking defeat for Pereira, as he lost his championship belt via unanimous decision at the T-Mobile Arena.
After the fight, Dana White hinted that an immediate rematch was likely. Both Pereira and Ankalaev later expressed excitement about running it back for another 25-minute war.
Robert Whittaker Predicts an Even More One-Sided Match
Before UFC 313, former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker had backed Alex Pereira to win. But after witnessing “Poatan” fall short, Whittaker has completely changed his stance.
He now believes that Pereira will lose even more convincingly if he steps into the Octagon with Magomed Ankalaev again.
“I think the hype and confidence that Pereira had—this whole aura that if he touches you, you’re going to go out—is now completely gone. Ankalaev took his best shot and didn’t go down,” Whittaker said on the MMArcade podcast.
According to Whittaker, Ankalaev has no reason to fear Pereira anymore.
“All the boogeyman vibes, all the mystery surrounding Pereira—they’re gone. Ankalaev now knows Pereira is beatable, just like anybody else.
“Honestly, I think Ankalaev dominates him even more in the rematch. I don’t see it being as close as the first fight. Pereira is in trouble.”
What’s Next for Robert Whittaker?
As for Whittaker, he’s still searching for his next opponent after suffering a devastating submission loss to Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 308.
Roman Dolidze, fresh off a victory over Marvin Vettori, recently called out Whittaker, but the former champion has his sights set on a different fight.
“I want to fight Sean Strickland during International Fight Week,” Whittaker said.
With UFC 317 set to be the biggest summer event, Whittaker vs. Strickland seems like a perfect matchup. However, Strickland is currently recovering from a broken nose suffered in his brutal five-round loss to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 312, leaving his return timeline uncertain.
An unwinnable fight for Pereira?
Despite his reputation as a knockout artist, Pereira’s loss at UFC 313 exposed key weaknesses—especially against a technical, defensive, and strategic fighter like Magomed Ankalaev.
If they rematch, Pereira must completely revamp his strategy. Relying on power alone won’t work against an opponent who has already cracked the code to neutralize him.
Meanwhile, Ankalaev now knows exactly how to shut down Pereira’s offense. With elite grappling, defensive IQ, and superior endurance, the Russian powerhouse has the tools to make Pereira’s rematch dreams turn into a nightmare.
Will Pereira bounce back and reclaim his throne, or will Ankalaev crush him even more decisively? Let us know your thoughts!
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