With ‘Poatan’s star power growing significantly, the promotion looks to give him more favorable matchups to protect his status as champion.

Magomed Ankalaev Claims Dana White Gave Him An Ultimatum Before His UFC 308 Fight

The Russian has become much more assertive in the past year as he feels badly affected by not being offered another title shot given his 12-fight unbeaten run.

Ankalaev has also claimed that UFC CEO Dana White has told him that his performance next Saturday needs to be exciting to earn a title shot, as winning alone simply won’t get him a fight against Pereira.

“We decided that we have to be much louder than before because I have been waiting for a title fight for two years, so now we thought that if people comment on me, we have to come back,” Ankalaev said at the media day of UFC 308 .

“It’s up to the UFC (whether I fight for the title). I’ve pretty much been told that with this win I’m next in line for the title, so I’m hoping that will happen… It’s not a condition that it’s a finish and a title (shot), I was just told by Dana that it has to be a good fight and I have to show myself well and then I will get a title shot,” Ankalaev continued.

Ankalaev claims Aleksandar Rakic ​​is the toughest fight at light heavyweight

Although Rakic ​​suffered a loss to Jiri Prochazka at UFC 300 last April, Ankalaev believes the Austrian is the toughest test in the light heavyweight division due to his versatility.

“It’s not that he’s that tough, but the fact is that he’s well-rounded. He does have strikes, he has the ground game, right, when it comes to the champion, he just has the strikes, okay, and we know those strikes and we have never seen him wrestle,” Ankalaev claimed.

Despite the majority of fans believing Ankalaev will finally earn a title shot this Saturday, ‘Rocket’ hopes to take the title shot away from the Russian with a big win of his own.

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