Magomed Ankalaev Warns Alex Pereira Ahead Of UFC 313: ‘Chama Time Is Over!’

The hours are ticking down to the main event of UFC 313, where reigning undisputed light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira will put his title on the line for the fourth time in the space of 12 months against Russian contender Magomed Ankalaev.

Pereira has enjoyed a meteoric rise to the top of the sport after capturing undisputed UFC titles in two different weight classes following a kickboxing career that saw him do the same under the GLORY Kickboxing banner.

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But on Saturday night in Las Vegas, Pereira faces arguably his toughest challenge as a light heavyweight. Ankalaev has lost just once – a last-second submission to Scotland’s Paul Craig on his UFC debut – and has built a reputation as a tough, tricky, dangerous contender with knockout power on his feet, and a strong top game on the mat.

Pereira’s weapons are well known. His striking is as destructive as anyone in the UFC today, and the Brazilian will be looking to find Ankalaev’s chin on Saturday night as he looks to hand the Russian the first knockout loss of his MMA career.

But, at the pre-fight press conference, it was Ankalaev looking to land the first blow as he declared that Pereira’s time at the top of the division would come to an end at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night.

“I’d like to say that I see in this fight everyone is against me,” he said.

“Everyone is saying ‘Chama! Chama! Chama!’

“But guess what? Chama time is over. After this Saturday night, after the fight, you will all love me.

“The same people that are saying Chama now are going to be saying No Chama! It’s Ankalaev time.”

Chama translates from Portuguese as “flame,” or “fire,” and has become Pereira’s one-word catchphrase since rising to the top of the UFC.

But now Ankalaev plans to derail the champion’s momentum by handing Pereira his first loss at 205 pounds and fulfill the potential many saw in him when he arrived in the UFC back in 2018.

It’ll also put right the events of Ankalaev’s first title tilt, where he battled to a split draw with former champion Jan Blachowicz for the vacant title at UFC 282 in December 2022.

Many believed Ankalaev deserved to get his hand raised that night, and the Russian departed the Octagon visibly upset after the verdict was announced.

But, after taking time to process what happened at T-Mobile Arena that night, Ankalaev is ready to return to the same venue to put things right against Pereira and finally capture light heavyweight gold.

“I wasn’t upset about the last Magomed Ankalaev Warns Alex Pereira Ahead Of UFC 313: ‘Chama Time Is Over!’ fight,” he said.

“I have nobody to blame, it’s just myself. We saw the fight. The whole world saw the fight. But it happened the way it happened. Now it’s a whole different ballgame. It’s a different fight, it’s a different opponent.

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And Ankalaev said that Pereira should count himself fortunate that he hasn’t had to face him already, and warned that “Poatan’s” time at the top of the division will be over after this weekend.

“You know what? Honestly, he should say thank you to Dana White for protecting him this whole time,” he said.

“Now it’s going to be a whole different thing.”

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