A clash of titans awaits at UFC 313, and former middleweight king Israel Adesanya has made a bold call, Alex Pereira will retain his light heavyweight crown by knocking out Magomed Ankalaev in devastating fashion. The highly anticipated title bout, slated for Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, pits Pereira’s explosive stand-up game against Ankalaev’s versatile skill set. Sharing his insights on YouTube, Adesanya, who’s battled Pereira four times across two sports, sees a familiar weapon sealing the deal.
Pereira enters as the division’s reigning force, riding a wave of destruction with nine UFC wins, including six against former champions. His 2024 campaign, three title defenses, three stoppages, has solidified his reign. Ankalaev, unbeaten in 13 fights, counters with a blend of suffocating wrestling and sharp striking, aiming to claim the belt he narrowly missed in 2022. Yet Adesanya envisions Pereira’s striking edge prevailing.
“Leg kicks, let’s just address the f*cking elephant in the room,” he said. “I just think this is going to go leg kicks, leg kicks, leg kicks, left hook. Alex Pereira by KO. … He’s going to knock him out in the fourth or fifth round.”
How Pereira’s Firepower Could Break Ankalaev
Ankalaev’s grappling might challenge Pereira, but Adesanya highlights the champ’s improved defense.
“I think Ankalaev is going to try to take him down,” he observed. “Can he keep him down? Alex Pereira is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu now. … He’s exponentially getting better.”
That growth, paired with Pereira’s raw power, bolsters Adesanya’s belief in a late stoppage.
Adesanya’s conviction draws from personal scars.
“Maybe I’m banking too much on the leg kicks,” he conceded. “I have experience with it. I know how painful it is and how effective it is.” He adds a twist, suggesting Ankalaev’s strategy might shift under pressure.
“That’s going to be a factor in this fight. He might have to become a wrestler in this fight.” Pereira, a kickboxing legend turned UFC dual-division champ, has made those kicks a 12-2 career hallmark. Ankalaev, at 20-1-1, faces a brutal test to dictate terms against such ferocity.
More than a title bout, UFC 313’s headliner is a clash of mastery that could steer the division’s course. Adesanya sees Pereira, relentless and exact, wearing Ankalaev down for a fight-ending strike. If he’s on target, Saturday will close with Pereira atop the heap, his reign stronger than ever.
