Alex Pereira is gearing up for his first fight of 2025 as he prepares for UFC 313, where he will defend his light heavyweight title against Magomed Ankalaev. Pereira, who has had an impressive run as the 2024 Fighter of the Year, defended his title three times last year, proving himself as one of the top competitors.
Despite being actively engaged with fans and even attending concerts following his recent cornering duty for Sean Strickland during UFC 312, Pereira's focus has come under scrutiny. Critics, including Daniel Cormier, have questioned whether Pereira's off-ring activities have distracted him from his training, particularly with Ankalaev being hailed as perhaps the toughest challenge he has faced yet.
“Pereira is not locked in on this fight,” Cormier opined, expressing concerns about whether Pereira was taking the right approach as he relaxed post-UFC 312 rather than tightening his focus solely on the upcoming title defense. Cormier has seen how focused Ankaliev is and fears Pereira might be losing valuable preparation time.
Responding to these concerns, Pereira shared his training activities through social media, posting clips of himself working diligently on his takedown defense at Teixeira MMA, his training camp. He addressed Cormier directly with confidence, stating, “Don’t worry, @dc_mma. We’re over here working,” which sent ripples through the MMA community, emphasizing his determination.
Chael Sonnen, also weighing in on Pereira’s training, expressed unease about Pereira sparring without proper headgear. “It bothers me,” Sonnen noted, voicing concerns about Pereira potentially shortening his career with such recklessness. Having only suffered one knockout loss so far, Pereira continues to prove his resilience, but experts are concerned if this strategy will hold against Ankalaev's wrestling prowess.
Pereira’s upcoming fight on March 8, 2025, carries significant weight as he aims for his fourth title defense. Growing anxiety surrounding his preparation surfaces from conversations around Ankalaev’s capabilities. With 20 wins and one loss, Ankalaev is renowned for his formidable wrestling, potentially posing severe challenges to Pereira, particularly considering Pereira's historically weaker grappling skills.
Training alongside Glover Teixeira, who understands the intricacies of grappling and ground game, is pivotal for Pereira. Teixeira's expertise is invaluable as they work on adjustments to strengthen Pereira's defensive skills against wrestling-heavy opponents like Ankalaev. Teixeira MMA has shared updates reflecting Pereira's commitment, helping to quell some concerns from critics.
Given the stakes, analysts are sharply divided on who will win this matchup. While Pereira’s standup skills secure his reputation as one of the most dangerous strikers, the fight against Ankalaev could test his grappling defenses more than any past opponent. Oddsmakers are closely tracking how the odds evolve leading up to this fight, indicating the high level of uncertainty surrounding the outcome.
Looking back, this level of scrutiny isn’t new for Pereira. Even before notable fights like his rematch against Jiří Procházka, questions concerning his training habits have been raised. Yet, he has consistently proven skeptics wrong, embodying both resilience and skill.
After quickly ascending to the UFC light heavyweight championship, Pereira has the potential to shift weight classes if he’s successful against Ankalaev. Chael Sonnen mentioned this possibility, noting Pereira’s natural weight of approximately 230 pounds, hinting at opportunities for pursuing heavyweight ambitions, following the trend set by other champions like Ilia Topuria.
Should Pereira win at UFC 313, the prospects for his future matchups grow enticing. He could become one of the rare talents able to navigate multiple weight classes effectively. Yet, such ambitions come at the cost of relinquishing his title—an uphill battle not to be taken lightly.
With pressure mounting, the spotlight remains firmly on the reigning champion. Determined, Pereira continues his rigorous preparations, confident he will prove the naysayers wrong. The anticipation builds for UFC 313, where Alex Pereira aims to fortify his legacy and silence his critics once and for all.
Whether he can maintain focus amid distractions remains to be seen, but Pereira has always thrived under scrutiny, which only adds to the allure of this title bout. Fans and pundits alike will be watching closely to see how the champion handles the pressure as he faces off against the persistent challenge of Magomed Ankalaev.