Alex Pereira Issues $200K Charity Challenge to UFC 313 Foe Magomed Ankalaev

Alex Pereira wants Magomed Ankalaev to put his money where his mouth is.

Ankalaev has been a consistent presence on social media leading up to his title opportunity against Pereira in the UFC 313 headliner at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night. This past weekend, the Dagestani issued another strong statement regarding the upcoming light heavyweight bout.

“CHAMA is a dead man walking. I’m going to drown this man,” Ankalaev wrote on X.

CHAMA is a dead man walking I’m going to drown this man 🤼🤼

— Magomed Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM) March 2, 2025

Ankalaev’s confidence hasn’t gone unnoticed by the reigning 205-pound king. Pereira recently issued a challenge to Ankalaev, urging his opponent to put up a significant amount of cash for a good cause.

“Since you are so confident you will win, $200,000 to the winner’s charity of choice,” Pereira wrote on X. “Win or lose, this will help those in need. It’s in your hands.”

Since you are so confident you will win, $200,000 to the winners charity of choice. Win or lose this will help those in need. It’s in your hands @AliAbdelaziz00 @AnkalaevM

— Alex "Poatan" Pereira (@AlexPereiraUFC) March 3, 2025

It’s unclear what charity “Poatan” would represent. However, based on the response Ankalaev issued on Monday, it might not matter.

As a Muslim you know betting is forbidden in Islam, and also as a Muslim every year I have to give 2.5% of my wealth to charity this is one of the five pillars of Islam.

Many kids around the world are in need and we can do things after the fight but we don’t have to publicize it https://t.co/5RXfHehW3n

— Magomed Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM) March 3, 2025

Pereira enters UFC 313 on a five-bout winning streak, a run that includes three successful light heavyweight title defenses. Ankalaev, meanwhile, is unbeaten in his last 13 Octagon appearances since September 2018, though that does include a no contest and a draw.

Editor's Note: This item was updated at 1:11 a.m. ET to include Ankalaev's response.