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MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz is outraged by the UFC’s decision to pass over Magomed Ankalaev for a light heavyweight title shot, instead granting it to Khalil Rountree. Rountree (13-5) will challenge current champion Alex Pereira (11-2) in the main event of UFC 307 on October 5 in Salt Lake City. Meanwhile, Ankalaev (19-1-1), who Abdelaziz insists is the rightful No. 1 contender, has been scheduled to face Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi on October 26.
Abdelaziz, who also manages stars like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Kamaru Usman, expressed frustration with the UFC's decision.
“Certain fighters have a long road to the title, like Khabib, like Kamaru Usman, like Islam Makhachev,” Abdelaziz explained to ESPN. "But when they get there, they become dominant."
Despite his client’s impressive record and an unbeaten streak spanning 12 fights, Ankalaev is forced to wait for another shot at UFC gold.
“It’s bullsh*t he’s not getting a title shot,” Abdelaziz said bluntly.
He acknowledged that Ankalaev previously fought for the vacant light heavyweight title against Jan Blachowicz in December 2022 at UFC 282, a contest that ended in a split draw. But Abdelaziz believes the Dagestani contender is still the best in the division.
“I believe he’s the best light heavyweight on the planet. I know it, you know it, Dana White knows it, Mick Maynard knows it,” he asserted.
While Pereira has rapidly risen to stardom and earned his shot at defending the belt, Abdelaziz insists that Ankalaev will inevitably get his chance to prove himself.
“Magomed Ankalaev will handle business, Alex Pereira will handle business, and these two guys will fight in 2025,” he predicted.
With Ankalaev’s current form, Abdelaziz is confident that his client’s path to the championship is only delayed, not denied. Ankalaev remains focused on his upcoming bout with Rakic, but for Abdelaziz, the UFC’s decision to sideline him for the title shot remains a major point of contention.
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