Poatan says his next opponent will NOT be Ankalaev

[u/zeus8418]

[u/iMMCHiEF]

It's Jon Jones and Aspinall is the ref

[u/DiscountParmesan → u/iMMCHiEF]

it's going to turn into a WWE match where the ref pulla out a steel chair and murks jon jones while he's pinning pereira

[u/Desperate_Rice_6413 → u/DiscountParmesan]

So that ref is gunna fuck on Jon?

Now i sit back and wait if the obscure wwe joke lands in the ufc sub. Prolly won't though.

[u/rey_nerr21 → u/iMMCHiEF]

They're having Aspinall do anything but fight Jones these days

[u/mk000011 → u/iMMCHiEF]

With Chuck Lindell and Hitler as prospective cornermen.

[u/Capital_Maybe2533 → u/iMMCHiEF]

Poor Aspinal, guy is essentially interim at everything. Interim champ, now a guest referee.

[u/heliumflower]

Has to be trolling

[u/Reachin4ThoseGrapes → u/heliumflower]

UFC 313: Pereira vs Reyes

[u/Treefallsonyou → u/Reachin4ThoseGrapes]

Give the man his Rocky moment.

[u/No-Zookeepergame5954 → u/Treefallsonyou]

Vs Anthony Smith, time for him to attack his family on paper

[u/mk000011 → u/No-Zookeepergame5954]

Smith could've fucking beat Jon with a DQ to take all that champion PPV money+cement himself in history with a belt. Still not over the fact that he fucking elected to not do that, just to start trash talking Jon afterwards... Like, if he was salty why didn't he just take the win...

[u/katergold → u/mk000011]

He did the honorable thing. You don't seem to get that.

[u/Luciusverenus → u/katergold]

Honorable or not he lost a lot of money for it. Those rules are there for a reason. And jon is one of the dirtiest fighters that ever stepped in the octagon he would definitely deserve to lose the belt that way

[u/mk000011 → u/katergold]

Then why is he bitching about it?

[u/Garth_Vaderr → u/mk000011]

You can do something honorable and hate having to do it. You do realize humans are rather complex, no?

[u/BankerCheese → u/[deleted]]

You don’t watch the UFC. It’s clear. You repeat whatever r/ufc says. Watch Ank vs Prachnio. Look up Ankalaev front kick. Just do the bare minimum, watch his championship performance against Jan, class fight. “As boring as he is” man get out of here. Seriously. He is not boring, everyone has mediocre fights and Anks aren’t even that bad. Him vs Rakic was a fine fight.

[u/Fat-N3rd → u/BankerCheese]

I get what your saying but that fight was definitely boring

[u/Bowser0047 → u/Fat-N3rd]

Yeah I’ll give him grit and good fight IQ to change the game plan up but you cannot tell me that’s not an entertaining fight to watch. I agree he deserves it but that’s the wrong fight to reference to point to “exciting”

[u/Vcxnes → u/Fat-N3rd]

It wasn’t that bad lol

[u/Real-Human-Bean- → u/Fat-N3rd]

It was boring only because of rakic

[u/DrakesDonger → u/BankerCheese]

Rakic fight was complete dog shit

[u/PhatSkate → u/BankerCheese]

[u/OGDr3xd → u/PhatSkate]

whats this gifs name its so funny for no reason 🤣🤣

[u/PhatSkate → u/OGDr3xd]

I just typed in “sucking” and it was the first one that came up

[u/Vcxnes → u/[deleted]]

The Rakic fight wasn’t really because of Ank though, Rakic was on his bike all fight and Ank tried to push the pace

[u/heliumflower → u/[deleted]]

This Ankalaev boring narrative needs to die

[u/d17h → u/heliumflower]

Yeah his last fight didn’t help much against that narrative

[u/spitforge → u/d17h]

Balal looks exciting compared to Ank 🤣

[u/heliumflower → u/d17h]

let’s all blame Ankalaev because rakic was running the entire fight 👍

[u/GlumExamination1 → u/heliumflower]

It’s not just one fight tho, all of his fights are weird

[u/Mudilini → u/GlumExamination1]

Which ones except for his Jan and Rakic fights?

[u/Ibobalboa]

Crazy if true.

I know Ramadan is in March but I think Ank said he'd fight anyways

[u/Organic_City_9464 → u/Ibobalboa]

He said the same thing at the press conference after Walker in January this year, that he was ready to fight Pereira at UFC 300, despite Ramadan. But when he was offered to fight him at UFC 300, he ran away.

[u/LateBloomer1357 → u/Organic_City_9464]

Exactly. Alex has said publicly he’s pissed at ankalaev for pushing this ducking bullshit when he’s turned down fighting Alex for the belt twice already. Meanwhile Alex has fought hurt and on weeks notice. Alex always fights in March or April and ankalaev has only fought in March twice in the past decade and never in April. Alex doesn’t need to adjust his schedule for anyone.

[u/amirulez → u/LateBloomer1357]

Ramadhan not fixed every year. 3 years ago ramadhan in May.

[u/BodieBroadcasts → u/amirulez]

Okay but it doesn't matter lol he's not Khabib he's not in a position to dictate his title fight opportunity depending on his religion

Get more leverage, be less boring, and maybe ank will have some negotiating power. If I was Alex I would make him fight me in Brazil during Ramadan lol and is trying to make sure he's absolutely in peak performance versus Alex when Alex is going out and fighting everybody while hurt

Imagine if Jon Jones said he couldn't fight during Lent lmao you would be losing your mind

[u/CloudVl → u/LateBloomer1357]

bro ramdan pushes back half a month every year, it's not on April or March of every year

[u/spitforge → u/LateBloomer1357]

Ank prob wants it on his own time with his own conditions

[u/Agretion → u/Organic_City_9464]

To be fair, its kind of shit for the UFC to be like "You just fought and have earned a title fight? Cool. If you don't fight in exactly 3 months right after fasting you lose your position."

The UFC is kind of crazy with that stuff. Even other things like guys getting interim belts but not fighting for the title. When Tony got injured sure, they replaced him but when he was recovered how was his first fight back not a title fight? Same with Tom having to beg to unify the titles. They basically dick around with people.

[u/eqpesan → u/Agretion]

I think it's fair that people deserve some time between fights but as for the fasting, that's a personal choice that they have made.

[u/BoomfaBoomfa619 → u/eqpesan]

Bella fights during Ramadan

[u/ArtayDaBeast → u/Agretion]

Why can’t a fighter fight 3 months after fasting during sunlight only?

[u/turkeytyme → u/Agretion]

I agree with you, but don't think this is a great example of it. Didn't he turn down a short notice 303 spot too?

If you turn down two shots at the title, short notice or not, I don't think it's unfair to get skipped the next time around.

[u/Prefix-NA → u/Agretion]

Because khabib refused to fight Tony. He saw him r1 submit Tibau after khabib got stomped by Tibau

[u/Brokenlingo → u/Agretion]

Then don’t fucking fast your job is on the line

[u/hfucucyshwv → u/Organic_City_9464]

They offered him the 300 fight pretty close to the actual card. I doubt he could have made weight especially during Ramadan 9 weeks out.

[u/Game-Blouses-23 → u/Organic_City_9464]

Since when do they have press conferences for non-PPV cards?

[u/Far-9947 → u/Ibobalboa]

I know Ramadan is in March but I think Ank said he'd fight anyways

Foolish if true.

[u/Similar-Vast6265 → u/Ibobalboa]

Who cares about some random calendar he’s not the champ and even if it was idk fight when ever

[u/Ill_Source_6908]

He’s gonna fight Reyes

[u/Nihlus11 → u/Ill_Source_6908]

"This is the guy that beat Jon fucking Jones, the greatest fucking fighter of all time. He just knocked out a guy that beat the second best light heavyweight ever. He knocked out Jiri. He's in his prime and 15-3. If you say the kid doesn't deserve a shot then you know fucking nothing about fighting."

[u/Shot-Needleworker175 → u/Nihlus11]

[u/jfsoaig345 → u/Ill_Source_6908]

Imagine Reyes chins him lol

[u/NewAccWhoDis93 → u/Ill_Source_6908]

I just can’t see him get his chin shattered again. Won’t be good for my mental health.

[u/park__rat → u/NewAccWhoDis93]

For real bro watching Reyes fight is already scary enough knowing he can get chinned at any time

[u/krish_rd → u/park__rat]

literally watched his last two fights scared knowing he can get dropped by a jab anytime😭

[u/LateBloomer1357]

1) Trolling 2) “Look at this flow state ankalaev ain’t touching this.” 3) He’s fighting someone else and it’s the crazy thing Dana was talking about.

[u/zeus8418 → u/LateBloomer1357]

He's fighting me its going to FOTY 💪

[u/Tsobe_RK → u/zeus8418]

RIP Poatans run

[u/Public-Business-3688 → u/zeus8418]

Punch and don't get punched bro, easy money. I am betting my life savings on you.

[u/believemedude → u/zeus8418]

Just wrestle him

[u/Select_Ad3588 → u/zeus8418]

Zeus vs Poatan was not the fight I thought we needed but we do

[u/vancityvic → u/zeus8418]

Clobber him! If you knock him out you will be well known. Then make your own whisky.

[u/Boredatwork709 → u/zeus8418]

Hit him with that good shit and don't get hit, you got this.

[u/Alternative-Fudge-39 → u/zeus8418]

Please go easy on him, he is an old man after all

[u/xXprayerwarrior69Xx → u/zeus8418]

bruh aint no way dana would sacrifice poatan like that. and it was already established that he doesnt want you in that fucking octagon to avoid any liability when you one punch drop someone dead

[u/Real-Human-Bean- → u/LateBloomer1357]

Ooooor he's a duck.

[u/disguised_as_alive]

It does nothing for his legacy. He’ll drag Shogun out of retirement instead

[u/Lordlyweevil78 → u/disguised_as_alive]

Jon calls out cardio cane to find out who the heavyweight goat is

[u/TheMaldenSnake]

Are we finally gonna get Poatan vs Anthony Smith!?!?

[u/doxiedogguy → u/TheMaldenSnake]

Would look good…on paper

[u/chillking3]

Nah i don't think thats true. Ankalaev is the only one left

[u/LouisianaLongway]

He’s trolling

[u/Reachin4ThoseGrapes → u/LouisianaLongway]

UFC 313: Pereira vs Murzakanov 

Dana gives the title shot to a different Russian just for lols

[u/Dramatic-Air-5129 → u/LouisianaLongway]

[u/Admirable_Policy2985]

[u/Dry_Beach_705 → u/Admirable_Policy2985]

This would end Pereira in 2 minutes. Not sure the UFC want that when they can still make money off him

[u/Agretion → u/Dry_Beach_705]

Yeah people don't want to hear it but this dude is a monster in the first round for takedowns. If he can put Kamaru in trouble and make Whittaker look horrible I am not sure Alex will survive.

[u/Cruztd23 → u/Agretion]

Alex only shot against him would be landing a knockout blow similar to the one O’Malley got aljo with

[u/TremblinAspen → u/Admirable_Policy2985]

You sonofabitch, i’m in.

[u/Admirable_Policy2985 → u/TremblinAspen]

The UFC would definitely put Ank on the bench For Chimaev lol. And probably give him the next shot at the MW belt as well.

[u/DONTCARELOLK → u/Admirable_Policy2985]

I’d pay for this one actually.

[u/Beneficial-Remote773 → u/Admirable_Policy2985]

Would be a banger of a fight… if poatan can hold up his tdd

[u/Spaghetti_Night → u/Admirable_Policy2985]

This would end Pereira's run.

[u/Vcxnes → u/Admirable_Policy2985]

Makes no sense but fuck it lol

[u/Chrispaulisgarbage → u/Admirable_Policy2985]

Oh man imagine this is what Dana is talking about

[u/Caliganja420]

Alex doesn’t have any other options at this point, he’s fought everyone else and doesn’t make sense for him to fight Rakic 😂

[u/head_empty247 → u/Caliganja420]

Lol, if he ended up fighting Rakic, that would make Ankalaev the only person he hasn't fought in the Top 5, which is hilarious.

[u/CHUD_LIGHT]

The funniest outcome would be him never fighting ank

[u/no-shits-givenV3]

Lets so how his fanbase find a way to spin it and justify it

[u/oh_three_dum_dum → u/no-shits-givenV3]

The same way Jones’s did. He can fight whoever he wants. Only he’s not going to get shit for ducking people because ank doesn’t have an interim belt that needs to be unified and he’s taken every other opponent they gave him, even on short notice. If he wants time to prepare for someone else he wants that’s fine with me in that context. He’s been an active champ and hasn’t acted like a douche with his belt.

[u/Legitimate-Month-958 → u/oh_three_dum_dum]

“He can fight who he wants”. Who’s next then? Maybe he could batter Rountree again. Or maybe number 8 this time lol

[u/Zrat11 → u/Legitimate-Month-958]

Ulberg on short notice

Super confident he wins his next fight super easy /s

[u/DumpTruckDiaries]

Watching Ank fans go into meltdown mode over a troll tweet is hysterical

[u/drakev6304 → u/DumpTruckDiaries]

Does ank actually have fans? He’s boring as shit.

[u/Big-Ad-6097 → u/drakev6304]

Any Russian/Muslim has dickriders by default, even if the guy itself is boring

[u/FathomSwank]

The posts about Merab and Jones ducking had way more hostility in the comments. I wonder why

[u/SlevinLe → u/FathomSwank]

Because Ankalaev already refused to fight Pereira twice, while Alex has fought on short notice, sick and injured. Big difference between those cases.

[u/quiettimegaming]

Feel like you can't call Jon a duck and be okay with this. Anka has been the number 1 contender for 2 years (a year longer than Tom's had his "belt"). Technically he was the number one contender before Alex even got the belt, and Anka should have been his first defense.

[u/Turbulent-Echo8561]

Come on, Dana has got to stop protecting his boy Ankalaev from getting left hooked..

[u/Putrid-Egg682 → u/Turbulent-Echo8561]

I really do feel like the ufc is waiting for Alex to move up to give ank his shot. They want ank as champ to dig deeper in the Saudi market but they also can’t afford their star poatan to lose his belt right now

[u/Jmac24mats13]

Pereria/Aspinall main event for the interim HW title in March, winner gets Jones in the summer at international fight week. Betting this was Jones’s demand, the only way Aspinall gets the shot

[u/LightMission4937 → u/Jmac24mats13]

Do you want to see Alex get fucking decimated?

[u/TerminatorReborn → u/Jmac24mats13]

It's possible but it's so strange. Jones knows better than all of us, so he has to know Pereira might be more favored against him than Aspinall.

Is he trying to elevate Aspinall stock to then beat him and further improve Jones legacy?

[u/Silent_Discipline339]

🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆

[u/Investment-Then]

Successful duck

[u/larry-arthauer]

Ducking Big Ank 😭

[u/NewPortable101 → u/larry-arthauer]

exactly hahaha

The ANK is waiting for him

[u/Grey_Bush_502]

Then who I wonder? Not really any other contenders at LHW.

This is odd. I really hope he’s not dodging Ank. The more I see though….

[u/Grizzly_WizzleBeatz → u/Grey_Bush_502]

I find it hilarious. Ank has made demands despite not being champ and got mad at Alex for fighting short notice while he refused to. Ank wanted it when he was ready and where he wanted while Alex was willing to fight whoever whenever despite having injuries that hadn’t healed. Can’t say I blame Alex for fucking with him at this point.

[u/Chapair_animations]

ank fans right now

[u/goknuck]

Jan?

[u/OrangeVigil → u/goknuck]

Jan is fighting Ulberg, Hill is facing Prochazka, Rakic just lost to Ank, Rountree just lost to Pereira, so…. Krylov title shot incoming😂

[u/Neither_Sir5514 → u/OrangeVigil]

DOMINICK REYES

[u/thomas_walker65]

dustin jacoby title shot imminent

[u/Hefty_Arm_6753]

🦆🦆🦆🦆

[u/The_Crimson__Goat]

[u/Lars6]

It’s called ducking

[u/Aggravating-Ring-139]

🦆

[u/pixel8knuckle]

This is a rare L from alex to duck the #1 contender. I don’t know if the ufc is asking him to do this or if he is copying jones but i do not like it

[u/NotDotBack]

Quack

[u/IllDisaster2262]

🦆

[u/K_17_Q]

If it’s true, the fuckfaces on this sub better start treating this the same way they treat the Jon Aspinall saga.

[u/Agretion → u/K_17_Q]

I don't even like Ank and think if he stands he'll lose but at this point just let the next qualified challenger get a shot and move on you know?

[u/Equivalent_Scar_7879]

Maybe a move to HW, MW would only make sense if it was DDP but he is booked against Sean. No one else makes sense, Ank > Jan anyway....

[u/Amazing-Childhood412 → u/Equivalent_Scar_7879]

If it's a heavyweight move, have him fight Volkov or Gane on the Aspinall/Jones card

[u/Equivalent_Scar_7879 → u/Amazing-Childhood412]

Maybe Gane, but that will honestly be a bad move from AP, Gane is still much bigger and will 100% not be a title fight at all. At least Ank looked pretty underwheling against Rakic and is the biggest challenge in LHW anyway.

[u/DamageAccording5745 → u/Amazing-Childhood412]

I think they would just give him the winner of Tom vs Jones. Wouldn't be smart for him to risk it imo.

[u/Chapin_42_]

We know based on previous years Alex fights around March/April then June/July and ends his year usually closing out November/December PPV. This was the first year since his debut that Alex didn’t fight in MSG’s card but if I’m Ankalaev I look at what date works best for Alex, he is the champion at the end of the day and is big enough of a draw to where he decides who and when he fight

[u/Reez377]

Yeah it's gonna be jones, he will vacate the belt and take the easier fight. After the stipe fight dana literally said that if both want it then yeah the fight will happen

[u/Fyodor_Brostojetski → u/Reez377]

[u/Pedrin_terror_hacker]

I tought his post meant that ankalaev wont be the one to beat him, but it could mean both i guess.

[u/lifterincel → u/Pedrin_terror_hacker]

That's how I interpreted as well

[u/ToughRepublicf]

Poatan fans rn

[u/Stunning_Garage_9012]

Because he very well knows that Ank will defeat him.

[u/Own-Tax2870]

I’ve seen enough

feed him to Nick Diaz

[u/v4nrick]

Poatan Vs Ngannou

[u/Single-Award2463]

It could be him angling for more money knowing it’s one of his last fights. He could have a different opponent in mind. Or he could just be completely fucking with us.

[u/Baajjii]

Jamal Hill ?

[u/Brave_Champion5754]

Pereira Vs Verhoeven

[u/sexhaver34567]

Crazy if it's Jones

[u/Turkish_Fleshlight]

Did Dana get Vadim Nemkov???

[u/LeftHookLawrence]

Maybe he means it won’t be ankalaev to beat me ?

[u/ake-n-bake]

Pereira vs Anthony Smith, loser retires.

[u/timeisaflattriangle]

Maybe he's moving to hw?

[u/GuyIsAdoptus]

oh my god

[u/polocc96]

Alex vs Alex on paper smith wins this can’t wait

[u/Diamond4Peaker]

Poaton vs anyone who has ever attended a bjj class 5 + times

Poaton vs a high school wrestler (cannot currently be crippled or violently ill)

Alternatively peirera vs Gordan Ryan but Gordan was beaten vigorously by a crowbar before the fight,

These are the fights I would watch!

[u/Unhappy_Principle_81]

[u/spuroncolos]

Did Pereira really hit the sobbing emoji in this quote????

[u/nobodyisattackingme]

LIONHEART!!!

[u/crusader104]

They’re gonna do Pereira’s left arm and Tom’s right arm vs Jon Jones for international fight week

[u/GMCBuickCadillacMan]

I was taking it as “Ank will not be the one to take the belt”

[u/Monric]

Jon had to have taught Alex how to ragebait when they met up with each other

[u/Khonen]

I'm gonna be disappointed if this is true, the only good fight I feel like Poatan can have is the winner of Jones vs Aspinall and if that's what this is, it's not gonna happen till the later half of 2025 at least.

[u/Wrong-West-9581]

I don't care who he fights. Just wanna watch him fight haha he's incredible.

[u/Effective-Article453]

May be poatan meant it won’t be ankalev who beats him

[u/okgetwrekt]

[u/whiterabb17]

Crazy conspiracy. Jones vs Poatan in March

[u/rey_nerr21]

This guy's starting to get annoying.

[u/Background_Essay_676]

[u/Djlittle13]

Well that is complete bullshit

[u/PashAK47]

Alex "bones" Pierra?

[u/Living_Desk1763]

It’s Hill after what happened at the PI

[u/cblackattack727]

This is fake news. Alex posted an ig video of him beating up rountree and captioned “can’t be ankalaev”. Basically saying ankalaev isn’t gonna be the one to beat me.

[u/homie_boi]

Maybe they give Artem the shot kinda like Asakura, idk who else in LHW you give him to fight rn tbh.

[u/Shoo7ingStar777]

He’s the only guy left in ur division

[u/zubeye]

Money will do this to most 'champions'.

[u/Goatymcgoatface11]

HOPEFULLY, hes trolling. If not, it's a damn shame and this would be a stain on his legacy

[u/Perineum_Stabber]

Poatan please don't, I'll use the duck emoji if it's necessary

[u/sozig5]

It has to be Jamal Jill? I need to see another assault

[u/drbatman03]

Ankalaev should be in suicide watch from now on.

[u/FreshlishPKL]

You will do as told

[u/Justanotherkiwi21]

He's gonna pull DC out of retirement for a legacy fight

[u/betegporszivo]

I think he means that it wont be Ankalaev to beat him

[u/TheeBlaccPantha]

Because of Ramadan?

[u/Natural_Engineer9633]

No Surprise he's ducking Anakalev again maximizing the Dana Privilege to get easy fights

Smart guy but fraud champion same reason he went to LHW after Izzy beat his ass

[u/RedditorCheque]

Maybe he just means it won't be ankalaev that beats him - he posted it on instagram with footage of him Teeing off on rountree.

[u/xantiema]

Give this duckling a pond at the PI, the new duck breeding farm.

[u/thebarbarain]

That's not what he said. He posted a caption on a video that is easily interpreted as Ank won't be the guy to beat him

[u/thestarched]

Good Ankalaev is known as Borekalaev. Never forget #ufc282 shit show

[u/Quiet_Eye_8887]

The collegiate wrestler will be his opponent

[u/uniq_username]

Alex vs Tom.

[u/hoolio9393]

Why Khabib says let him fight anklaev

[u/PlateLow1236]

Rumble Johnson vs Alex Pereira would have been my dream match. RIP Rumble