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Magomed Ankalaev’s manager is interested in seeing him face off against Paulo Costa while Carlos Ulberg continues his recovery.
Following on from his win over Bogdan Guskov, Magomed Ankalaev believes he is ready for another crack at the UFC light heavyweight championship. Of course, given the dull nature of the victory and his quick knockout loss to Alex Pereira, there are some conflicting opinions on whether that’s the best move.
RELATED: Magomed Ankalaev blamed for lackluster UFC Abu Dhabi main event by former UFC champion
Another man who is seeking a title shot, perhaps less deservingly so than Ankalaev, is none other than the always unpredictable Paulo Costa.
In a recent interview, Ankalaev’s manager Ali Abdelaziz explained why they are open to a showdown with Costa.
Ankalaev vs Costa should happen, says manager
“Carlos Ulberg needs to take his time. He’s the champion,” Abdelaziz told MMA Junkie. “I think the fight needs to happen, him and Paulo Costa. Paulo Costa said a lot of reckless things, and you know what? He does a good job to get people’s attention – not in a bad way. A lot of a**holes, they say a lot of sh*t and they get bad attention. He’s funny. He’s witty. He’s a good fighter, too.
“Paulo Costa, people think he’s a joke. He’s a real serious fighter, and I think him and Ankalaev for an interim belt, for a regular fight, doesn’t matter. They just need to fight. This is what I want. That’s what the UFC wants, too. The UFC offered this fight to Ankalaev three times, and I’m not sure why this fight didn’t happen. … I don’t think his chances of winning are very high.”
Quotes via MMA Junkie
Who would you back to pick up the win in this contest? Should it be for an interim title? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, BJPENN Nation!
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