Australia's best betting sites

Magomed Ankalaev dethrones Alex Pereira in UFC 313 battle

by

Magomed Ankalaev defeat Pereira

Magomed Ankalaev is the new UFC light heavyweight champion after executing a disciplined game plan to dethrone Alex Pereira via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47 x2) at UFC 313.

The Dagestani fighter used relentless pressure, sharp counterstriking, and effective clinch control to neutralise Pereira’s offense over five rounds, securing his long-awaited title at $1.94 with the top MMA bookmakers.

“It’s been such a long way, here’s my dream, it’s on my waist,” Ankalaev said post-fight.

“I’m really happy that I won, I’d like to say thank you to my team, to Russia, to Dagestan. Thank you, we have got another belt now.”

The fight began with Pereira targeting Ankalaev’s legs, landing heavy kicks to slow him down.

The challenger remained patient, eventually closing the distance and landing a hard left hand that briefly wobbled the champion.

In the clinch exchanges, Ankalaev’s strategy became evident—pin Pereira against the fence and limit his striking opportunities.

The fourth round saw more grappling, with Ankalaev controlling position and frustrating the Brazilian.

Pereira attempted to rally in the fifth, landing a head kick and some strong combinations, but it was not enough to sway the judges.

After the fight, Pereira voiced frustration with the way Ankalaev secured the victory.

“I knew it would be a war, every fight of mine is a war… he put some pressure in the second round, I felt some strikes. But putting me up against the cage, it didn’t really do anything,” Pereira said.

“Giving him the win with a game plan like that, it incentivises people to do that. People may say it’s a boring style, but when someone gets a win others may want to do that too.”

The scorecards, particularly the 49-46 ruling from one judge, sparked debate among fans and analysts.

Some felt Pereira did enough to retain his belt, while others acknowledged Ankalaev’s control and effectiveness.

Dana White later confirmed that a rematch was likely. “Probably,” White said when asked about running it back.

For now, Ankalaev stands as the 18th light heavyweight champion in UFC history, adding another championship belt to Dagestan’s growing list.

Whether Pereira gets an immediate shot at redemption remains to be seen, but the rivalry between these two is far from settled.

Sports news

Topics: Alex Pereira, Featured, Magomed Ankalaev, MMA, UFC

More News

All Recent News