Alex Pereira-Magomed Ankalaev offered UFC 317 headlining spot

Rematch?

This past weekend, UFC Light Heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev revealed on social media that he was offered a headline UFC 317, also known as 2025 International Fight Week, against Alex Pereira.

“I was offered to Fight Alex international fight week if the man don’t want it let’s move on I’m ready for everyone,” Ankalaev wrote. “I dare you.”

MMA journalist Ariel Helwani confirmed that the UFC indeed approached Pereira and Ankalaev to headline the event on short notice.

“According to what I’m hearing, what Magomed Ankalaev [said] is in fact accurate. They did call Alex Pereira and say, ‘Hey, we want you to fight Ankalaev on International Fight Week,’” Helwani said. “It’s not that Pereira doesn’t want it; he’s unavailable, the timeline isn’t working… the plan was August, but now that UFC is scrambling, they asked if he can fight in June. I hate to say it, I don’t think he was hacked.”

Last week, Pereira claimed he was hacked after writing on social media, “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.”

Piecing the story together, here’s what likely happened:

• UFC 317 is 6 weeks away with no mega main event.
• UFC figured they would return to the well and asked “Poatan” to rematch Ankalaev, the former champion, who thought he would get the rematch in August.
• Pereira declined, and the UFC either pressured him or pivoted to Jiri Prochazka.
• Pereira, a loyal company man, expressed his frustration publicly on social media.
• The UFC urged Pereira to retract his statement, prompting the “hacked” claim.

It’s safe to say UFC CEO Dana White and co. a chaotic situation as they scramble to finalize UFC 317’s main event.