According to the Brazilian, if he can influence the choice of opponent for his first title defense, he will choose to fight the Russian instead of fighting former division champion, Jamal Hill, who is recovering from injury.
“I’ve heard a lot of people say Ancalaev is a bad fight for me,” Pereira told Ag Fight. “If both, Hill and Ancalaev, were available tonight and I could pick one of the two, Hill would be the better fight for me in terms of winning.”
“Ancalaev is the more difficult one. I think that’s a good choice for me. I agree that the fight with him is more difficult, but I’m training well and evolving. I would prepare a strategy for Ancalaev. If I had to choose, I would pick him over Hill.”
On Nov. 11 at UFC 295 in New York City, former UFC middleweight champion Alex Pereira won the vacant UFC light heavyweight title by finishing Jiri Prohazka by second-round technical knockout, and a rematch between Magomed Ankalaev and Johnnie Walker will headline UFC Fight Night 234 in Las Vegas on Jan. 13.