🔴10 MINUTES AGO: After the Louis Vuitton Owner Announced the Termination of Magomed Ankalaev’s Ambassador Contract Following His Loss at UFC 319 — “For Some Reason, We Put Our Trust in the Wrong Man — He’s a Failure.” He Immediately Reached Out to Alex Pereira, Offering $50 Million to Promote the Brand. In Response, Alex Pereira Said Five Words That Drove the Louis Vuitton Owner Insane…!!!!
By Elena Vasquez, MMA Insider Correspondent Las Vegas, NV – October 6, 2025
The UFC world was still reeling from the explosive main event at UFC 319 on Saturday night, where Alex Pereira reclaimed the light heavyweight title with a brutal 80-second TKO over Magomed Ankalaev at T-Mobile Arena. But just 10 minutes ago, the drama escalated far beyond the octagon into the glittering realm of luxury fashion, as LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault publicly axed Ankalaev’s lucrative Louis Vuitton ambassador deal in a scathing statement that has ignited a firestorm across social media.
“For some reason, we put our trust in the wrong man—he’s a failure,” Arnault declared in a terse Instagram post from his official account, viewed over 2 million times in minutes. The 76-year-old billionaire, whose empire includes the iconic French fashion house, had signed the Dagestani fighter as a global ambassador just six months ago, touting Ankalaev’s “unbreakable spirit” in campaigns featuring monogrammed trunks alongside his championship belt. The partnership, valued at an estimated $10 million annually, was meant to bridge high fashion with the raw intensity of MMA, aligning LV’s “Victory Travels in Louis Vuitton” ethos with Ankalaev’s undefeated streak. But Pereira’s lightning-fast leg kicks and ground-and-pound finish shattered that image, leaving Ankalaev bloodied and belt-less for the second time in their rivalry.
The termination came swiftly—hours after the post-fight presser where a dejected Ankalaev accused Pereira of “dirty tactics” and hinted at retirement. LV insiders whisper that Arnault, a known boxing aficionado who once sponsored Manny Pacquiao, viewed the loss as a betrayal of the brand’s pursuit of unyielding excellence. “We celebrate conquerors, not the conquered,” a source close to the LVMH board told ESPN, echoing Arnault’s ruthless business style seen in past fallouts with ambassadors like Roger Federer during his injury-plagued years.
Yet, in a twist worthy of a fashion week plotline, Arnault didn’t stop at severance. Mere moments after the announcement, he pivoted dramatically, extending a jaw-dropping $50 million endorsement offer to the victor: Alex “Poatan” Pereira. The Brazilian knockout king, fresh off his emphatic reclaiming of the 205-pound throne, was pitched as LV’s new face—a “modern gladiator” whose stone-cold stare and knockout power embody the brand’s edgy evolution under Pharrell Williams’ creative direction. The deal, reportedly spanning two years with custom Poatan-branded luggage lines and runway appearances at Paris Fashion Week, would dwarf Pereira’s existing sponsorships with Venum and Monster Energy, catapulting his off-octagon earnings into nine figures.
Pereira, ever the stoic warrior, wasted no time responding. In a clip that’s already viral on X (formerly Twitter), the 38-year-old champion posted a stone-faced video from his locker room, clad in a fresh LV monogram hoodie courtesy of the brand’s quick courtesy drop. Staring directly into the camera, he delivered five words that sent Arnault into a reported frenzy: “Chama que a gente resolve.” Translated from Portuguese as “Call, and we’ll settle it,” the phrase— a nod to his kickboxing roots and a subtle flex of Brazilian bravado—implied Pereira would “handle” the deal on his terms, perhaps negotiating up or demanding creative control. Insiders say the quip, laced with playful menace, left Arnault “fuming yet fascinated,” as it echoed the fighter’s in-cage trash talk that has made him a PPV juggernaut.
The fallout has been instantaneous. Ankalaev fired back on Instagram Live, calling the move “corporate betrayal” and vowing to expose “LV’s fake loyalty.” Fans are divided: #JusticeForMagomed trends alongside #PoatanForLV, with memes pitting monogrammed gloves against Pereira’s infamous left hook. UFC CEO Dana White, chuckling in a tweet, quipped, “Fashion fights are the new superfights—who’s got the belt now?”
This saga underscores the high-stakes intersection of sports and luxury, where one punch can topple empires and forge new ones. As Pereira preps for his first title defense, will LV’s gamble pay off, or has Poatan’s retort already rewritten the script? One thing’s certain: in the worlds of MMA and haute couture, trust is as fragile as a runway heel.
