Alex Pereira accused of messing with religion to delay grudge fight with rival Magomed Ankalaev

Despite claims from his manager that a fight with Alex Pereira is most definitely next, Magomed Ankalaev’s religious practices may be used against him by the Brazilian according to Joe Rogan — who claims the UFC star is likely to utilize the period of Ramadan to his advantage to delay a grudge pairing.

Pereira, the current undisputed light heavyweight champion, has been sidelined since last October, earning himself the LowKick MMA Fighter of the Year award with his third successful defense that annum alone — stopping Khalil Rountree with a bloody finish in the fourth round.

The victory added to a pair of prior knockout stoppages over both former champions, Jiri Prochazka, and Jamahal Hill earlier that year during high profile headliners for the promotion.

And willing to offer the above-mentioned Hill a short at his title once more if he can get past soon-to-be common-foe, Prochazka at UFC 311 next weekend, Alex Pereira played down the chances of him facing off with surging rival, Ankalaev next.

However, Dominance MMA manager, Ali Abdelaziz — whom Ankalaev is a client of, claimed Pereira would most certainly be fighting the Russian next.

Joe Rogan claims Alex Pereira is gaming Ramadan to avoid Magomed Ankalaev

But the previously mentioned color-commenator, Rogan claimed that while Alex Pereira had been linked with a February or March return to the Octagon, he may be using the fact that Ankalaev practices the religious tradition of Ramadan to his advantage in order to delay a fight with Ankalaev.

“He’s (Alex Pereira) supposed to be fighting (Magomed) Ankalaev,” Joe Rogan said on the Joe Rogan Experience. “Ankalaev is f**king very dangerous, and he’s the No. 1 contender, and he’s been on a winning streak for a long ass time. He’s only got one draw, and that was to Jan Blachowicz, who was the former champion. He’s at the top of the heap and he’s been waiting for a title shot for a long time.”

“But he’s been talking a lot of s**t and Alex doesn’t like that he talks s**t, so he’s like, ‘F**k him, make him wait.’ Alex just said that he’s gonna fight in March and that he’s not gonna fight Ankalaev,” Rogan explained. “Because If he’s fighting in March, when is Ramadan? … Ankalaev wouldn’t be able to fight in March, he’s gotta go through the entire month of Ramadan preparing for a world title fight? February 28th to March 29th. That’s exactly during the time period when [Pereira] is going to fight.”