Pereira and Ankalaev Set for UFC 313 Title Fight
On January 21, 2025, Alex Pereira was preparing for a light heavyweight title defense against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313. Pereira told ESPN MMA he had considered taking a break after beating Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307, but resumed training, felt good, and asked his managers to arrange a March fight with Ankalaev. UFC announced the bout for March 8 in Las Vegas.
A high-stakes title defense
Ankalaev entered the matchup as the division’s top contender after a unanimous decision win over Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 308. The booking paired Pereira’s kickboxing-based striking with Ankalaev’s measured striking and wrestling, making the challenger a different test from Pereira’s three knockout defenses in 2024. UFC’s announcement and Pereira’s ESPN interview provide the original context for the matchup.
Ankalaev claimed the title
The fight took place on March 8, 2025. Ankalaev defeated Pereira by unanimous decision, with official scores of 49–46, 48–47, and 48–47, and won the UFC light heavyweight championship. The result turned the anticipated contest into Pereira’s first loss at 205 pounds.
Sources
- ESPN MMA: Pereira asked for the Ankalaev fight at UFC 313
- UFC: Pereira to defend his title against Ankalaev at UFC 313
- UFC: Official UFC 313 results and judges’ scorecards
