Haram! Here’s why Magomed Ankalaev turned down Alex Pereira’s ‘forbidden’ $200k bet for UFC 313

Magomed Ankalaev has spent the last several months talking smack about Alex Pereira.

The reigning light heavyweight champion, no stranger to pre-fight trash talk, challenged the current No. 1-ranked title contender to put his money where his mouth is — in the form of a $200,000 wager (with the proceeds going to charity).

Not gonna happen.

“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,” Ankalaev wrote on Twitter. “Many kids around the world are in need and we can do things after the fight but we don’t have to publicize it. Your manager and my manager have a good relationship and we can let them handle that, see you soon.”

Very soon.

Pereira and Ankalaev collide atop the UFC 313 pay-per-view (PPV) fight card this Sat. night (March 8, 2025) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. “Poatan” is currently a slight betting underdog but the moneyline continues to shrink.

For much more on this weekend’s UFC 313 event click here.