Light heavyweight Aleksandar Rakic looks to play spoiler against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 308, while looking to snap a two-fight skid against a pair of former champs.
Rakic (14-4) is coming off losses to Jan Blachowicz and Jiri Prochazka. Ankalaev, in contrast, was the man many felt deserved the title shot Khalil Rountree Jr. got earlier this month. But Ankalaev’s style (and lack of personality) hasn’t done him any favors in a promotion that continues to stray from meritocracy. Enter Rakic, in a bit of a surprise match-up.
“I really don’t know what went back and forth with Magomed, his manager and the UFC. Only the UFC knows why they decided Khalil to fight against [205lb champ Alex] Pereira,” Rakic stated during the UFC 308 media day on Wednesday. “But what makes me really happy is the UFC gave me Ankalaev, and I honestly believe if I didn’t put a good fight on UFC 300, it doesn’t matter the result, I would never get that fight.”
“When I got the fight against Ankalaev, the name, I immediately said yes. Because he’s #2-ranked, behind Jiri Prochazka, who lost twice against Pereira. So this is the best match-up for me. And stylistically, it’s going to be a better match-up for me than Jiri Prochazka.”
There’s a possibility Rakic could steal a potential title shot, however unlikely it would be off a single win. Still, on that front, Rakic proclaimed that “it’s time to remember, the fans and the people, who ‘The Rocket’ was back in the day. I’m ready to crash the party on Saturday and mix things up.”
With a fair bit on the line, from a 0-3 skid to a possible title shot, you can imagine the pressure Aleksandar Rakic might be under. Or maybe not. Rakic himself suggest there’s no pressure on him ahead of Saturday.
“I have no pressure at all. I’m ranked #5, he’s ranked #2. Yes, probably this fight is going to be a number one contender’s fight, but you never know. We’ll see what the UFC decides,” he explained. “I’m in Abu Dhabi, kind of like in enemy territory. It’s the territory of Magomed Ankalaev, and he needs to have pressure, not me. I got in, being ice cold, and see my chances where I can. Finish the fight if I can. If not, my mentality and my plan for this fight is just to go in and dominate from second one to the end of the fight.”
Watch the full UFC 308 media day appearance by Aleksandar Rakic above.
