Magomed Ankalaev's manager addresses potential Alex Pereira rematch, issues deadline warning: "He's on vacations"

Alex Pereira needs to decide on when he will fight Magomed Ankalaev, because the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion's manager, Ali Abdelaziz, recently touched on a potential deadline. There is no bigger fight in the division than the rematch between Pereira and Ankalaev.

The buildup to their initial fight was defined by extremely bold, even personal, trash talk from Ankalaev. In the end, he dethroned 'Poatan' as the light heavyweight king. While he is willing to wait for Pereira to prepare himself for a rematch, he won't wait forever, as Abdelaziz told MMA Junkie.

"Listen, we got asked to fight International Fight Week, we said yes. We got asked to fight Alex in August, we said yes. We got asked to fight october. This is what Maga [Ankalaev] is saying, 'Alex is at every event. He's on vacations, he's doing this.... I don't know if he's really going to fight me or he's just having fun.' He's like, 'I'm killing myself in the gym. I don't know when I'm fighting him. I'm the champion, I feel like I'm the challenger.' And I said if he's not ready, let me get some of these other guys."

While Ankalaev is frustrated, Abdelaziz reaffirmed their collective belief that Pereira, one of the biggest stars in the sport, deserves a rematch. However, they won't wait for him forever.

"It's no problem. I think Alex Pereira earned it, and I think he deserves it. If we have to wait, it's okay. That guy did a lot for the sport and we respect him, and I think it should be him and Magomed Ankalaev next. Hundred percent, if it's not Abu Dhabi, he will fight someone else, for sure."

Check out Ali Abdelaziz's thoughts on Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira (8:30):

The ball is in Pereira's court. Unfortunately, there's been little news on the kickboxing great's front.

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Alex Pereira had a bizarre situation involving the UFC and his social media accounts

Not long ago, Alex Pereira's X/Twitter shared a bizarre statement in which he expressed disappointment in the UFC. The reasons, though, were unclear. The post was deleted, and Pereira later claimed his account had been hacked.

Addressing the issue, Pereira said in a video posted on Instagram (via MMA Junkie):

"I always answered the UFC's calls, but if they want to play with me, we can do that. I've never spoken poorly of the UFC but with what I've just heard I'm disheartened. I've already had thoughts of not fighting anymore, and after what was just relayed to me this may be the start."

Unfortunately for Pereira, few believed that his account was hacked, given that it's unusual for a hacker to use an account simply to badmouth the UFC.