On March 9, 2025, the UFC 313 took place in Las Vegas, showcasing an eventful night of mixed martial arts actions where Magomed Ankalaev clinched the title of champion in the light heavyweight division. The showdown against Alex Pereira was intense and lasted the full five rounds, culminating with Ankalaev’s victory by unanimous decision, with judges scoring it 49-46, 48-47, 48-47.
For Ankalaev, this marked the realization of a long-cherished dream. "Words can't express how long I've waited for this moment. Now my dream is on me. Nothing surprised me, I could have fought even stronger, but it didn't quite go as planned. Now I'm going to work even harder since everyone will be hunting for my belt. To keep it, you have to be ready at all times. I won't choose my opponents; the doors will be open for everyone," he stated after the match.
Pereira, fighting fiercely, admitted, "I knew it would be war. Every fight is a war for me. He was applying pressure in the second round. I felt some of his strikes, but he didn’t do much when he cornered me. We followed our strategy. We know he corners people and plays this game. A victory with this game plan encourages people to do the same. Some might say this is a boring style, but when the guy wins this way, people want to mimic it." This fight, he recognized, was more complex than he believed.
The co-main event saw Dustin Gaethje engage Rafael Fiziev, with Gaethje also winning by unanimous decision at 29-28 across all three judge’s scorecards. The rest of the night also delivered thrilling results: Ignacio Bahamondes secured victory over Jalin Turner via submission ('triangle') early on, Amanda Lemos edged past Yasmin Lucindo with the same unanimous decision score, and Mauricio Ruffy wowed everyone by knocking out King Green emphatically with a spinning head kick.
Other notable outcomes included Joshua Van's victory over Ray Tsuruya, Bruno Ferreira's win against Armen Petrosyan through armbar, and Carlos Leal Miranda’s technical knockout of Alex Morono, showcasing the fierce competition within the octagon. Myron Dennis narrowly defeated Francis Marshall via split decision, and Osman Diaz triumphed over Jordan Santos by unanimous decision.
Reflecting on the fight's atmosphere, Rivera described it as intense yet restrained may, indicating both fighters seemed cautious under pressure. The judges felt the fight leniently as well. UFC President Dana White, watching this relatively subdued match, later expressed his disappointment during the post-fight conference. He admitted he expected more from the bout but acknowledged Ankalaev’s initiative, allowing for the possibility of rematches.
During the press conference, Ankalaev pointed out, "Alex ran away from me, I don’t understand those who say my fights are boring. Pereira was seen as the most electrifying striker, yet he avoided fighting me." Commenting on his victory, White noted, "I didn’t expect the fight to be so dull" with laughter, hinting at the tension both fighters carried. He acknowledged the frustrating dynamic surrounding the championship bout.
The media shockwaves linger around the notion of potential rematches, intensified by predictions from notable figures such as former two-division champion Daniel Cormier. Cormier strongly believes Pereira deserves another shot at Ankalaev. Cormier argues, "Pereira has had numerous title defenses and definitely remains a top contender. There is no one who deserves to fight Ankalaev more." Pereira holds 12 victories and three defeats, and it appears his track record might set the stage for another title opportunity sooner rather than later.
Magomed Ankalaev’s rise has been notable, marking him as the first Russian to claim the title from a reigning champion. Competing since 2018, Ankalaev's arduous path consisted of 15 fights over 2,549 days, outpacing other champions and reflecting his resilient dedication. Currently, his unblemished streak stands at 14 fights without defeat – showcasing his potential as one of the brightest prospects within the UFC.
This championship event accordingly highlights not only individual athletes' prowess but also the nature of strategic engagements within the octagon, delivering thrilling moments for the fans and stirring conversations on future matchups and championship defenses.