Alex Pereira returned to the Octagon on Saturday night at UFC 313 set to defend his light heavyweight championship against the division’s top-ranked contender, Magomed Ankalaev.
‘Poatan’ successfully defended his title thrice in 2024, scoring highlight-reel knockouts against Jamahal Hill, Jiri Prochazka, and Khalil Rountree. But unlike those three names, Ankalaev possesses both knockout power and world-class grappling, making him without a doubt the toughest test of Pereira’s mixed martial arts career.
Round 1
Pereira comes out and immediately backs up Ankalaev. The action has been few and far between in the opening minutes with Ankalaev landing a few calf kicks. Ankalaev gets on his front foot and starts to push back Pereira. Ankalaev unloads a high kick at the halfway point of the first. Both fighters continue to trade lead-leg attacks. Pereira throws a high kick of his own. Ankalaev throws a left hand that gets blocked. Ankalaev goes back to the inside low kick.
Pereira fires a shot to the body and then goes low with another calf kick. Ankalaev responds with a front kick. Pereira responds with a calf kick which prompts Ankalaev to shoot in looking for a takedown late in the round. Pereira defends and the round ends with Ankalaev clinching up against the fence.
Round 2
Ankalaev picks up the pace in the second round as Pereira goes back to attacking his lead leg. Ankalaev toys with switching stances, indicating that his lead leg is already compromised from all the kicks he absorbed in the opening round. Ankalaev lands a nice body kick up the middle. Perera fires back with a fast head kick, but Ankalaev gets his hand up. They trade leg kicks and Ankalaev lands a nice right hook.
Ankalaev’s confidence appears to be growing and he connects with another short right hand. Pereira counters with a left near the fence. Circling away, Pereira lands a stiff jab. Ankalaev comes back with a right of his own and connects with a left. Pereira goes back to the calf kick and Ankalaev lands with a left. With only seconds left in the round, Ankalaev lands with a big left that stumbles Pereira. ‘Poatan’ clinches up and makes it out the round without taking any further damage.
Round 3
Ankalaev opens with a kick to the lead leg of Pereira and follows it up with a kick to the body. The champ kicks him right back to the midsection. Ankalaev is controlling the Octagon and has Pereira hesitating to act as we pass the two-minute mark of the round. Ankalaev shoots in for a takedown, but Pereira fends it off with ease. Pereira lands a calf kick as they circle each other in the center of the Octagon. Ankalaev briefly clinches up against the fence, but Pereira separates and lands a nice combination shortly after the break.
Ankalaev lands a nice jab with less than a minute to go. Pereira lands a couple of calf kicks, but he hasn’t been able to do much more while being forced on his back foot.
Round 4
Ankalaev immediately closes the distance and clinches against the cage wall. Pereira uses wrist control to get free, but Ankalaev doesn’t let him get far and presses him back up against the fence. Ankalaev is controlling Pereira but offers little in the way of offense which frustrates the crowd. Referee Marc Goddard finally defends to break them up with two minutes to go in the round.
Ankalaev throws a right hand on the reset. Pereira blocks and lands a calf kick. Ankalaev lands a left hand over the top and Pereira is looking a little labored. That prompts Ankalaev to shoot in for another takedown. Pereira stays upright but gets trapped up against the fence. Ankalaev lands some knees to the body followed by a short uppercut. The penultimate round ends with Ankalaev in control and the fight potentially even on the scorecards.
Round 5
Ankalaev lands a front kick right away and follows it with a big right hand that connects. Ankalaev keeps the front kicks coming to try and keep ‘Poatan’ at bay. Pereira is trying to put Ankalaev on his back foot and lands another leg kick. With two minutes gone in the round, Pereira hasn’t offered much in the way of offense, but that quickly changes with a head kick that gets Ankalaev’s attention. Ankalaev throws an uppercut but misses the mark.
Neither fighter is urgent and Pereira connects with a nice jab that pops Ankalaev’s head back with little more than a minute to go. Ankalaev clinches against the fence, and Pereira desperately tries to free himself from the Dagestani’s grip. Ankalaev holds onto Pereira, but can’t land anything before the bell, sending us to the scorecards.
Official Result: Magomed Ankalaev def. Alex Pereira via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47)
Check Out Highlights From Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313:
Alex Pereira has hands down the most iconic walkout in UFC history #UFC313 pic.twitter.com/rsHTR67R1A
— Bovada (@BovadaOfficial) March 9, 2025
Bruce Buffer announces Alex Pereira as ‘The One, The Only’
He’s only done it for Jon Jones and Conor McGregor before 👀 #UFC313pic.twitter.com/2MFtvFwCax
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) March 9, 2025
Alex Pereira got WOBBLED by Ankalaev saved by BELL #UFC313 #PereiraVsAnkalaev pic.twitter.com/NXSaeonz1I
— X Fights (@XKnockouts) March 9, 2025
Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev goes the distance. #UFC313 pic.twitter.com/zc5o6804sT
— 001Sports (@001Sports_) March 9, 2025
49-46, 48-47, 48-47 #UFC313
Magomed Ankalaev beats Alex Pereira by unanimous decision! pic.twitter.com/hxeasdAaZv
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) March 9, 2025
