With UFC 313 drawing nearer, fighters and analysts are weighing in and offering their predictions for the sunshine heavyweight championship essential occasion. Gentle heavyweight champion Alex Pereira places his title on the road in opposition to high contender Magomed Ankalaev within the headlining bout.
Former featherweight champion Alex Volkanovski gave his breakdown of the matchup and revealed his prediction on his YouTube channel.
“Initially, after I heard about this battle I used to be like, that is is a troublesome matchup for Pereira. I nonetheless suppose it’s a powerful matchup,” Volkanovksi mentioned. “However then the an increasing number of I look into it and chat about it, Pereira, his takedown protection is getting higher and higher.”
“Let’s keep in mind his battle with Jan Blachowicz. (He) was capable of cease takedowns, get again to his ft. Confirmed a whole lot of enhancements in his takedown protection in opposition to a stable wrestler. In all probability inferior to Ankalaev. I believe Ankalaev’s wrestling and grappling goes to be significantly better than Jan Blachowicz to be fairly trustworthy. However I believe Pereira’s confidence understanding – He is all the time had understanding, however now an excellent higher understanding of the grappling, takedown protection. All that form of stuff,” continued Volkanovski.
“The Nice” believes Pereira will have the ability to deal with Ankalaev’s grappling and keep away from being submitted if the battle goes to the bottom.
“On the ft, Ankalaev, nice fighter. Southpaw. Does some nice issues. Can look very efficient on his ft, however Pereira is insanely good on the ft,” Volkanovski mentioned.
“I believe it is going to be arduous to wager in opposition to Alex Pereira with simply how issues are going to be. That inside leg kick. I do not know in case you keep in mind with Jan Blachowicz and Ankalaev, was capable of make a large number of Ankalaev’s lead leg. So clearly for him (Pereira) to seek out that chance, it is going to be there.”
Volkanovski in the end picked the champion to retain the title through knockout citing his accuracy and countering capability.
“I’m going to go along with the favourite on this one, Alex Pereira. KO. I will go along with KO or TKO. I believe with him, it is all the time a fairly secure wager,” he mentioned. “I am considering perhaps second or third spherical KO.”
