Magomed Ankalaev shocked the MMA world on Saturday night by dethroning Alex Pereira as the light heavyweight champion at UFC 313. Despite facing early challenges from Pereira’s leg kicks, Ankalaev found his rhythm and outclassed “Poatan,” ultimately securing a controversial unanimous decision victory to claim the title.
During the post-fight press conference at UFC 313, UFC CEO Dana White admitted that the fight between Ankalaev and Pereira didn’t unfold as expected, but he agreed with the judges’ decision.
“It was definitely not what I had in mind,” White remarked. “I was anticipating more takedowns and exchanges.”
Although Pereira suffered a setback, he remains a prominent figure in the MMA world. His remarkable 2024 season, where he defended his title three times with devastating knockouts, solidified his legacy as a two-division UFC champion and could potentially lead to a rematch with Ankalaev.
White hinted that a rematch between Ankalaev and Pereira is likely for the next title bout in the division, despite his reservations about the main event’s performance.
“Ankalaev vs. Pereira 2 probably makes sense,” White stated. “It was clear that Ankalaev posed a significant challenge for him. This was expected to be the toughest fight of Pereira’s career.”
Following his defeat, Pereira chose not to attend the post-fight press conference but shared positive sentiments about his future on Instagram.
“I’ll be back stronger. Thank you for all the support and love. Life goes on. Never give up on your dreams.”
Pereira’s only previous UFC loss was against Israel Adesanya in 2023. Since then, he has been dominant in the light heavyweight division, securing five consecutive victories before facing Ankalaev.
Ankalaev, on the other hand, extended his unbeaten streak to 14 fights with the win over Pereira. Confident in his abilities, Ankalaev expressed his readiness for a potential rematch, emphasizing his dominance in the first fight.
“I was in control throughout the fight. He was constantly evading me,” Ankalaev stated. “If Pereira wants a rematch, I’m ready. But he needs to show up and fight, not run away.”
Although Ankalaev’s wrestling was expected to be his advantage, he failed to execute any takedowns against Pereira. However, his cage control and striking prowess proved to be effective in neutralizing Pereira’s offense.
In a possible rematch, Ankalaev aims to deliver a more entertaining performance and showcase his striking abilities against the touted striker.
“Pereira was hyped as the best striker in the division, but I proved otherwise in the fight,” Ankalaev explained. “We were confident in our striking and pressured him throughout the bout. He never engaged and constantly retreated.”