While Pereira's supporters favor Pereira in the rematch against Ankalaev, the majority see Ankalaev as the favorite. Ankalaev easily controlled him, taking him to the next round and regulating his fight very well in the first match, and he'll do the same in this one, preventing Pereira from landing that left hook. Merab is the favorite, and I've long trusted Merab's dominant style. In fact, Merab's fighters are becoming more commonplace now we know what to expect we know how he'll fight. The card is stacked, but some matches contain repetition, which has been criticized, making it a bit less exciting.
What did Ankalaev do in the first fight? He did nothing, he just spammed takedown attempts and that's all. We didn't see a Champ Ankalaev, we saw a spammer Ankalaev (don't get me wrong, please). We also didn't see a Champion Pereira, we saw an unskilled Pereira who forgot who he is. This guy wasn't training but was travelling and was having fun in other countries, so it payed back while Anakaev was training and did his best. Yes, he spammed takedowns but it got him scores and he won fairly but what I want to say is that it wasn't the fight of champions. I didn't see the Pereira I knew and I hope I'll see him in the next fight. Anyways, if Ankalaev wins the second fight, then it doesn't matter whether Pereira was out of shape or not, he is the champion and that will be the fact.Merab Dvalishvili often trains in UFC Performance Institute and I would really suggest him to not train there because Dana White wants to get rid of him so much that I think, one day he will put poison into his food 
I'm kidding but will this guy ever be on the main even even without superstar opponent?
125 and 135 lb divisions usually get no respect from fans. I'm kidding but will this guy ever be on the main even even without superstar opponent?Which is why Demetrious Johnson was traded to ONE FC.
And TJ Dillashaw defended his 135 lb belt on TV cards with no Pay Per View.