On the night of March 9, 2025, the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas hosted UFC 313, featuring an electrifying main event between Russian fighter Magomed Ankalaev and Brazilian champion Alex Pereira. The bout, pivotal for the light heavyweight division, ended with Ankalaev securing the title through a split decision. The judges scored the fight 49-46, 48-47, and 48-47, marking Ankalaev's emergence as the new champion.
The head of UFC, Dana White, expressed his lack of surprise at the judges' decision, stating during the post-fight press conference, "I wasn’t shocked when I heard the decision. Everyone knew this fight would be one of the biggest tests of Alex's career, and I wouldn’t want to undermine Ankalaev's efforts and the pressure he put on Alex tonight. I thought Ankalaev won the fight."
At 32 years old, Ankalaev boasts 20 wins, with his only loss being one contentious fight, along with one draw and one no contest throughout his MMA career. On the other hand, Pereira, 37, now holds 12 wins and three losses after his defeat. This was Pereira’s fourth title defense, underscoring the stakes on the line for both fighters.
The bout itself showcased significant moments and shifts in strategy. From the outset, both fighters attempted to assert their dominance. Pereira initially relied on low kicks, targeting Ankalaev's front leg, yet struggled to maintain this momentum as the rounds progressed. By the second round, the energy shifted, with Ankalaev's confidence surging, evident through his crisp punching attacks.
"Ankalaev is very good with his timing and boxing technique," noted Ismailov, emphasizing the Dagestani’s tactical advantage. Although Ankalaev consistently attempted to take the fight to the ground, Pereira adeptly countered these efforts, defensively engaging against the fence.
The fight continued to oscillate between cautious exchanges and aggressive attempts. Pereira managed to land significant strikes, keeping Ankalaev on guard, but failed to capitalize on any of his own high-output combinations necessary to secure more decisive rounds.
Round four saw Ankalaev's attempts to grapple increase, leading to hard-fought exchanges along the cage. Despite Pereira’s experience as champion, concerns emerged about his ability to effectively counter under pressure, leading many to note he appeared somewhat passive compared to his usual fighting style.
Despite his loss, Pereira remains highly marketable as evidenced by White's comments about potential rematches. White stated, "A rematch isn't out of the question. The fans will likely want to see these two go at it again." Following the fight, Ankalaev himself expressed interest, saying he was open for a rematch with Pereira, indicating the competitive spirit shared between the two athletes.
The card also featured notable performances, including Justin Gaethje’s victory over Rafael Fiziev. Gaethje, returning from his recent defeat, showcased resilience and strategy, winning by unanimous decision with scores of 29-28 across all judges. He was initially slated to face Dan Hooker but adapted on short notice to fight Fiziev, who had not competed since September 2023.
Gaethje's victory came after weathering early takedown attempts and launching powerful counters. "It feels great to win again and to be back among the top contenders. I’m ready for whatever is next," Gaethje remarked after the fight.
Meanwhile, other fights on the card led to thrilling conclusions, adding to the night's excitement. Ignacio Bahamondes held strong against Jalil Turner, winning via submission, and Amanda Lemos earned decisive victory over Yasmin Lucindo through unanimous decision.
Despite Pereira's setback, his future remains promising, with speculations swirling about potential matchups against fellow contenders, including those waiting for title shots. White emphasized the UFC's strategy to keep the competition fierce and engaging, stating, "We have to keep making the best matches possible, and fighters like Pereira draw eyes—the kind of fighters fans want to see fight again and again."
After the event, Khabib Nurmagomedov praised Ankalaev, commenting, "Impressive performance, you entered history,” underlining the significance of the victory for Ankalaev’s career.
UFC 313 proved once again to be an exciting chapter for the organization, blending high stakes with intense competition, and with reactions from fighters and executives alike hinting at the possibility of revisiting some of the matchups seen on this night.