Tom Aspinall: Only 'Uneducated Fans' Had Pereira Winning Against Ankalaev

Tom Aspinall on the Ankalaev vs Pereira fight:

“I can’t believe people watched that fight and thought that Pereira won.

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It’s just wild to me how many uneducated fans are out there.”

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Tom Aspinall was bewildered by some fans’ assessment of the UFC 313 title fight between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev.

Ankalaev dethroned Pereira via unanimous decision in the main event at UFC 313 earlier this month. Ankalaev used his forward pressure to put Pereira on the back foot for the most part of 25 minutes. While Pereira defended all of Ankalaev’s takedown attempts, Aspinall still has some doubts about the Brazilian’s wrestling. Aspinall believes “Poatan” was wary of getting taken down by Ankalaev. And he also thinks Ankalaev didn’t go all in on most attempts, rather just using them to tire Pereira.

“I think [Pereira’s] still a bit wary of getting taken down,” Aspinall said in an interview with Morson Sport. “He definitely defended the takedowns well, but me with an educated eye watching it – I don’t think Ankalaev was really trying to take him down that much. I think he definitely tried a couple of times, I think he did 10 or 11 takedown attempts but I would say only two or three of them he went full blast. I think the rest of the time he was trying to tire him out with he grappling, standing — like the cage grappling stuff. I think Ankalaev had the perfect game plan: he didn’t over commit, tired him out.”

Pereira’s coaches, along with some observers, believe that the Brazilian beat Ankalaev. However, Aspinall believes it is only the uneducated eye that saw Pereira winning. “Honey Badger” also thinks it’s only uneducated fans who found the bout to be lackluster.

“I can’t believe people watched that fight and thought Pereira won,” he said. “It was just wild to me that how many uneducated fans are out there. And many uneducated fans thought it was a boring fight as well. I thought it was amazing fight. Both guys did good, and I think Ankalaev was just a lot better than him on that night.”