UFC 313: Light Heavyweight Champ Alex Pereira to Face Magomed Ankalaev in Las Vegas Headliner
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Undisputed UFC light heavyweight champion of the world Alex Pereira will return to action at UFC 313.
Brazil’s Pereira will make his first appearance of 2025 at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, when he faces off against Russian contender Magomed Ankalaev in the main event of the evening on March 8.
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Alex Pereira of Brazil fights during a light heavyweight championship bout during UFC 303 | Magomed Ankalaev of Russia punches Ion Cutelaba of Moldova in their light heavyweight bout during UFC 254 Alex Pereira of Brazil fights during a light heavyweight championship bout during UFC 303 | Magomed Ankalaev of Russia punches Ion Cutelaba of Moldova in their light heavyweight bout during UFC 254 Ian Maule/Getty Images | Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Pereira will look to register his fourth successive defense of the 205-pound title as he bids to continue his remarkable run of finishes inside the Octagon.
“Poatan” captured the light heavyweight crown with a second-round TKO finish of Czech former champion Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295 in November 2023, then went on to defend his title three times in 2024 in a prolific year for the 37-year-old, who captured kickboxing world titles in two weight classes before transitioning to MMA and repeating the feat in the UFC.
The former middleweight champion is now firmly established as the man to beat at light heavyweight, and has also been linked with a possible superfight with pound-for-pound great and current UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
But his next assignment will see him look to continue his reign at 205 pounds as he takes on Ankalaev, who has had to contend with bad luck and controversial scoring as his quest for championship gold in the UFC remains unfinished.
Ankalaev’s tilt at the vacant light heavyweight title at UFC 282 ended in controversy after his bout with Jan Blachowicz in December 2022 was scored a split draw. Then his momentum took another hit when his bout with Johnny Walker was rendered a no contest after an illegal knee left the Brazilian unable to continue.
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A rematch was ordered for three months later, and Ankalaev made an emphatic statement with a second-round knockout to put himself back in the win column for the first time in 18 months.
He then followed up with a hard-won unanimous decision victory over Austrian contender Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 308 to put himself in pole position for a title shot, and now he’ll get his second shot at the 205-pound crown when he takes on Pereira on March 8.
Pereira vs. Ankalaev heads up a fight card that also features a spectacular lightweight matchup between fellow fan-favorites Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker, while top 10 women’s strawweight contenders go head to head as Amanda Lemos takes on Iasmin Lucindo.
UFC 313: Reported bouts
Alex Pereira (c) vs. Magomed Ankalaev – for light heavyweight title
Justin Gaethje vs. Dan Hooker – lightweight
Amanda Lemos vs. Iasmin Lucindo – women’s strawweight
Bruno Silva vs. Joshua Van – flyweight
Armen Petrosyan vs. Brunno Ferreira – middleweight
Jhonata Diniz vs. Vitor Petrino – heavyweight
Carlos Leal vs. Alex Morono
Chris Gutierrez vs. Jean Matsumoto – bantamweight
Ozzy Diaz vs. Djorden Santos – middleweight
Marion Santos vs. Francis Marshall – featherweight
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