Abdelaziz: 'It's bullshit' Ankalaev isn't fighting Pereira for UFC title

Magomed Ankalaev's manager doesn't think it's fair that the UFC gave Khalil Rountree Jr. the next crack at light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira over Ankalaev.

The promotion surprised the MMA world in August when it scheduled a title fight between Pereira and No. 8-ranked contender Rountree as the UFC 307 main event on Oct. 5 in Salt Lake City, just two weeks after booking the No. 2-ranked Ankalaev against Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 308 on Oct. 26 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

"(Ankalaev) deserves a title shot," Ali Abdelaziz told ESPN's Brett Okamoto. "It's bullshit he's not getting a title shot."

Ankalaev, of Dagestan, Russia, is riding a 12-fight unbeaten streak and hasn't lost since his UFC debut in 2018. He fought Jan Blachowicz for the vacant 205-pound title in 2022, but the matchup ended in a split draw. Ankalaev has since gotten back on track with a second-round knockout of Johnny Walker in January.

"He just fought for the title, too. This is kind of what the UFC said," Abdelaziz said. "But the reality, I believe, is he's the best light heavyweight on the planet. I know it, you know it, (UFC CEO) Dana White knows it, (matchmaker) Mick Maynard knows it."

Rountree, on the other hand, has won five in a row dating back to 2021, with his biggest win coming against former title challenger Anthony Smith last December. He was recently suspended for unintentionally taking a banned substance but will be eligible to compete Oct. 5. When the UFC announced Pereira-Rountree, former champion Jamahal Hill described the matchup as "terrible for the sport."

Though Ankalaev was passed over for the next title shot, Abdelaziz is confident the 32-year-old will fight Pereira next year.

"Listen, the UFC has different views about what they want to do with Alex Pereira," he said. "They want him for Utah. They wanted - Magomed Ankalaev will fight in Abu Dhabi, in his market he fights in."

He added: "But every road has an end. ... Magomed Ankalaev will handle business. Alex Pereira will handle business. And these two guys will fight in 2025."

And when Ankalaev does get that opportunity, Abdelaziz hinted that he thinks the Russian will seize the throne and reign over the division for a long time.

"Certain fighters have a long road to the title like Khabib (Nurmagomedov), like Kamaru Usman, like Islam Makhachev," Abdelaziz said. "But when they get there, they become dominant."