The UFC light heavyweight division braces for an epic clash at UFC 313 on March 8, 2025, in Las Vegas. Champion Alex Pereira will put his title on the line against Magomed Ankalaev, a multifaceted fighter with a knack for finishing foes. Former champ Jamahal Hill recently shared his expert take on this matchup via his YouTube channel, dissecting both fighters’ arsenals and picking a winner.
Hill, knocked out by Pereira at UFC 300 in April 2024, sees Ankalaev’s striking as a hidden gem.
“Magomed’s striking is seriously being slept on here,” Hill said on his YouTube channel.
“I don’t believe that Pereira sits back and wants to fight out of the pocket. He wants to put the pressure on him and land good, hard shots on the outside. The problem with that is? Magomed is a counter striker. If you look at his last few fights, he counters. He waits for you to throw, to overexert yourself, and even off of feints, if you feint and it puts your feet in the wrong spot, he’s countering you. He counters with combinations. They’re fast, and he mixes up his punches. So, he has a variety of strikes available at his disposal. There’s the fact that he’s a southpaw.”
This paints Ankalaev as a tactical threat Pereira can’t overlook.
Pereira has reigned supreme at 205 pounds, dispatching Hill, Jiri Prochazka, and Jan Blachowicz with brutal knockouts. Ankalaev, unbeaten since 2018, has crushed opponents like Anthony Smith and Johnny Walker with his sambo roots and sharp striking. Their UFC 313 showdown promises a clash of titans.
Hill Outlines Strategies for Victory
Hill then turned to Pereira’s path to victory.
“For Pereira, the low kicks are there,” Hill said.
“He’s got good kicks all around. He would have to produce those in volume. Alex is going to have produce a lot of volume in this fight to give Magomed problems. He can’t just big-shot him. He’s going to have to upset him with volume, and then those power shots he’s going to land are going to have to come as counters.
“I believe he should work those until he’s able to draw Magomed out, then he’ll find some opportunities to land those big shots and that power. Knees to the body will be there, maybe a little bit of clinch work for whenever they do get into maybe some grappling exchanges.” Hill stresses volume as Pereira’s key to disrupting Ankalaev.
In the end, Hill leans toward the challenger.
“I’m going to go with Magomed. I feel he has more tools to win,” Hill said. “Obviously Alex has that one hit wonder. If he catches you, he can put you away, but I believe Magomed also has that. He has the speed, the patience to counter. He’s been in this position before. He already let the title slip out of his hands once before, and I believe he’ll be a lot more focused, locked in for this, and ultimately has more ways to win.” Hill cites Ankalaev’s versatility and hunger as decisive edges.
Pereira holds a slim edge in betting odds, thanks to his knockout prowess. Yet Ankalaev’s counterstriking and resilience keep him in contention. Set as Pereira’s third title defense since November 2023 and Ankalaev’s first shot at gold, this fight could shake up the division. Hill’s sharp insights heighten the stakes.
