By FCF Staff

Many fans and observers were surprised when it was confirmed Magomed Ankalaev was going to fight Aleksandar Rakic next, and not Alex Pereira. Further, Ankalaev’s camp has claimed Pereira was behind that decision. But, according to the UFC’s light-heavyweight champ, it was the promotion that opted to go another route.

Following Ankalaev’s knockout of Johnny Walker this past January, the consensus was that the Dagestani fighter would challenge for the belt next. Ankalaev is currently riding a 12 fight undefeated streak.

But, ultimately, it was announced that Ankalaev will face Rakic at UFC 308 on October 26th, and Pereira was booked to fight Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307 earlier this month. Pereira won that fight via a fourth-round stoppage.

More recently, Pereira appeared on The Ariel Helwani Show. “Poatan” proceeded to shoot down the claim that he was the one who pushed for taking a fight with a contender, other than Ankalaev (quotes via MMA Fighting.com).

“Some people say Ankalaev [is next] but I’m going to be honest with you, him and his manager have been talking a lot of crap saying that I don’t want to fight, this and that,” Pereira said. “But the reality is the organization doesn’t want him to fight because he’s boring. People don’t like to watch him fight. He’s not a guy that sells pay-per-views.

“Honestly, that’s disrespectful that they’re trying to put it on me. Because it’s not up to me, it’s up to the organization. The organization doesn’t want to make the fight. But now because they keep saying that, keep disrespecting, maybe I’ll make it a little bit even harder for them to fight [me].”

Pereira (12-2), who has fought four times in the last year, also reported that ideally, he wants to fight again in June. But, the Brazilian star also said fighting in March would work as well.

UFC 308 is taking place in Abu Dhabi. In the main event, featherweight champion Ilia Topuria will battle former champ, Max Holloway.