Magomed Ankalaev isn’t usually the loud type, but at Thursday’s UFC 313 pre-fight press conference, he let loose. Facing a rowdy Las Vegas crowd chanting “Chama!” for champ Alex Pereira, the soft-spoken Russian smiled through the boos and promised to flip the script by Saturday night.

“Everyone’s against me right now,” Ankalaev said. “All I hear is ‘Chama! Chama!’ But after this fight, you’ll all be cheering for me instead. Chama time is done—it’s Ankalaev time.”

“Chama” is Pereira’s signature catchphrase, tied to his wild UFC run as a two-division champ with three light heavyweight title defenses. But even with that resume, he’s only a slight favorite against Ankalaev, who many see as his toughest test yet.

Ankalaev’s got a 19-1 record (with one no-contest), 10 knockouts, and a combat sambo background that could trouble Pereira standing or on the mat. He’s been the division’s top contender for a while, ever since a 2022 split draw with Jan Blachowicz cost him his first title shot. That stumble made him grind harder for this moment—and he thinks Pereira owes UFC boss Dana White a thank-you for dodging him until now.

“I don’t blame anyone for that last title fight,” Ankalaev said. “It happened. The world saw it. Now it’s different—new fight, new guy. Pereira’s been protected, but that ends Saturday.”

The pro-Pereira crowd barely let him talk, but Ankalaev got a laugh when Russian media asked if he’d beat Pereira so bad he’d quit fighting and return to his old tire shop job in Brazil. “We’re gonna dominate him,” he grinned. “If he goes back to the tire shop after, that’s his call.”

Ankalaev’s all-in on winning the belt at UFC 313. Pereira’s been so good that a rematch could be next no matter what, but Ankalaev’s not looking past the fight. “Let’s win first,” he said. “Then we’ll figure out what’s next.”

Saturday night’s main event is set. Will Ankalaev dethrone the champ and kill the “Chama” hype? Stay tuned.

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