Magomed Ankalaev entered UFC 313 as the underdog against fan-favorite Alex Pereira but left the Octagon as the new UFC light heavyweight champion. In a dominant performance, Ankalaev neutralized Pereira’s offense, using a combination of striking and clinch work to secure a unanimous decision victory. The judges scored the bout 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46 in favor of Ankalaev, silencing the crowd at T-Mobile Arena.
“I don’t think anything surprised me,” Ankalaev said post-fight. “I believe I could have performed even better, but things didn’t go as planned. Nevertheless, I’m thrilled with the win.”
Immediate Rematch on the Horizon?
UFC President Dana White hinted that an immediate rematch is a strong possibility following Ankalaev’s victory.
Pereira (14-3) had been chasing history, attempting to become the first UFC fighter to win a title fight five times within 500 days. However, Ankalaev (20-1-1) executed a near-flawless strategy, forcing Pereira onto the back foot and preventing him from utilizing his devastating left hook. Pereira struggled to find opportunities to counter, as Ankalaev refused to engage recklessly.
Ankalaev’s Tactical Brilliance
The fight began with Pereira targeting Ankalaev’s legs, landing 11 out of 14 calf kicks in the first round to disrupt his movement. However, Ankalaev remained aggressive and gradually took control of the bout.
By the second round, Ankalaev’s striking came into play, as he stunned Pereira with a powerful left hand and rocked him again in the closing seconds with a right hook. As the fight progressed, Ankalaev employed clinch work and the threat of takedowns to control Pereira against the fence, further wearing him down.
Pereira admitted his frustration post-fight, stating, “We knew he would use the clinch and wrestling, but winning with a game plan like that encourages others to do the same. Some may call it a boring style, but if it wins fights, fighters will continue using it.”
Despite Pereira’s comments, Ankalaev dismissed any notion that he was not the aggressor.
“I kept moving forward, pressuring him the entire fight, while he spent 20 minutes running away,” Ankalaev stated in his post-fight press conference. “He questioned why I got the decision—who else was supposed to win? I was the one controlling the fight. If he wants a rematch, I’m open to it, but next time, he should actually fight.”
Stats Show Ankalaev’s Dominance
Though Pereira landed more total strikes (108-102), 48 of those were leg kicks, which had little impact on the outcome. Ankalaev, despite going 0-for-12 on takedown attempts, controlled Pereira for 5 minutes and 42 seconds, which proved to be the deciding factor.
The victory ended Pereira’s rapid rise as light heavyweight champion. After capturing the title in November 2023, Pereira defended it three times in 2024, gaining star power with highlight-reel knockouts. However, Ankalaev was widely considered the toughest stylistic matchup for Pereira, and his performance proved why he is regarded as the most dangerous contender in the division.
Ankalaev extended his unbeaten streak at light heavyweight to 14 fights, second only to UFC legend Jon Jones. Though the crowd may not have been pleased with the result, there’s no denying that Ankalaev is now the new force to be reckoned with at 205 pounds.
