New title challenger?PHOTO: UFC
He believed in himself. Even before the match test at the <a href="https://www.archysport.com/2024/07/ali-abdelaziz-doubts-alex-pereira-as-best-light-heavyweight-prefers-magomed-ankalaev/" title="Ali Abdelaziz Doubts Alex Pereira as Best Light Heavyweight: Prefers Magomed Ankalaev“>UFC 308 tournament in Abu Dhabi, he thought of Alex Pereira, the unique champion of the UFC light heavyweight division. But first, Magomed Ankalaev had to go through a tricky test, which bears the name of Aleksandar Rakič, and he succeeded. However, his victory did not come easily.
It started sharply, Rakič tested the opponent’s attention with more than one kick to the head, then added a batch of sharp kicks to the body and leg. It was fast-paced, Ankalaev pushed, Rakič patiently flicked one kick after another. His most frequent target was the head of a Dagestani opponent. Ankalaev optically pushed in the first act, but it was Rakič who was more variable, more accurate, more impressive in the cage.
Ankalaev was looking for a way, but the coaches assured him during the break that he was walking on the right path. That’s why he didn’t change his approach, he put pressure on the Serbian-Austrian rival. Rakič also followed the same recipe. He constantly changed the direction of his movement, he did not allow his opponent to target him, but he forgot about his own attacks.
It was the Dagestani who was better in the second round. He added to the intensity, hardness, caught Rakič several times with a sharp backhand, whose nose was covered with a red veil.
However, Rakič did not let himself be embarrassed, he started the third and final round with a hard cannon. Subsequently, the match returned to its old ways. Ankalaev pushed, Rakič retreated, in such an even duel, every punch, every action mattered, that’s why Rakič tried for a takedown about halfway through the round.
He pushed his opponent to the net, but he did not allow himself to be thrown. There was a long tug-of-war at the net, no spectacular fireworks were set off. In the end, the match ended in points, time ran out and both participants believed in their victory.
Ankalaev was the happier man after the announcement, he won on points, then he had a message for the champion as well. With the help of a translator, he texted Pereira. “Alex, stop running away from me, everyone wants to see our match,” believed the winner, who together with Jiří Procházka is ranked first in the light heavyweight division.
