Huge Main Event Set For UFC 313
2024 proved to be an exceptional year for Alex Pereira (12-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC). “Poatan” ran Ilia Topuria close for all of the “fighter of the year” accolades as his amazing run inside the Octagon moved to the next level.
The former UFC middleweight champion had just captured the light heavyweight title by knocking out Jiri Prochazka in late 2023 and defended the 205 lb strap three times through 2024, with all three victories coming by way of KO.
A first-round finish over former champion Jamahal Hill in the main event at UFC 300 was followed by a spectacular head kick KO over Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303 in June.
At that point, many fans expected the former Glory kickboxing champion to face the division’s No 1.-ranked contender, Magomed Ankalaev, next.
Surprisingly, the UFC instead booked Pereira to fight Khalil Rountree Jr. in the main event at UFC 307 in October, and he duly obliged by delivering his third finish of 2024 after an exciting four-round battle.
Alex Pereira To Face Magomed Ankalaev Next at UFC 313
Pereira attended UFC 311 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, with plenty of speculation in the air as to whether the winner of the main card clash between Jiri Prochazka and Jamahal Hill might earn another crack at the Brazilian’s title.
In a turn of events, however, UFC play-by-play commentator Jon Anik revealed live on-air before Prochazka and Hill walked to the Octagon, that Pereira will face Magomed Ankalaev (20-1-1 MMA, 11-1-1 UFC) in the main event at UFC 313 on March 8th.
Coming into UFC 313 in March, Ankalaev has been riding an impressive 13-fight unbeaten streak since being submitted by Scotland’s Paul Craig back in 2018 and picked up two impressive wins in 2024, knocking out Johnny Walker in the first main event of the year last January before beating Aleksandar Rakic by unanimous decision at UFC 308 in October.
Dana White “Started To Zone Out” Watching Ankalaev Performance
Ankalaev previously fought for the (then-vacant) light heavyweight title when he faced Jan Blachowicz at UFC 282 late in 2022. The fight turned out be a rather dull affair which ended in a split draw, a result Ankalaev seemed to disagree with.
“I was shocked, to be honest,” he said during a backstage interview afterwards. “I think I did plenty, and I did enough to be champion. But, this is the way the judges decided to swing it. I don’t know, maybe we should check our judges because I don’t know what we’re looking at, but obviously I won this fight”.
Dana White didn’t see Ankalaev’s side, however. “I don’t even know [who was winning], I started to zone out after like f—ing three rounds,” remarked the UFC president.
“I heard that Ankalaev is upset, and whatever. What do you want me to do? You know? You got beat up the first two rounds, then you take him to the ground and you started … what are you gonna do?”
Following his impressive form through 2024 however, Ankalaev is now set to get another shot at the title when he faces Pereira at T-Mobile Arena during UFC 313 on March 8th.
Massive Co-Main Event Booked For UFC 313
Also at UFC 313, former lightweight interim champion Justin Gaethje will face surging contender Dan Hooker in a five-round co-main event.
Gaethje (25-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) won the interim title when he beat Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 back in 2020, before being submitted by Khabib Nurmagomedov as he attempted to unify the belts at UFC 254 later that year.
COMING TO YOU SOON IN LAS VEGAS AT #UFC313 🤩@AlexPereiraUFC vs @AnkalaevM @Justin_Gaethje vs @DanTheHangman pic.twitter.com/ACcoysetEx
— UFC (@ufc) January 19, 2025
“The Highlight” fought for the lightweight belt again in 2022 when he was submitted by Charles Oliveira at UFC 274, and was last seen in action when he was knocked out in the dying seconds of his BMF title bout against Max Holloway at UFC 300 last year.
Dan Hooker (24-12 MMA, 14-8 UFC) has been enjoying somewhat of a renaissance in his career of late. “The Hangman” moved back up to 155 lbs following an ill-fated stint competing in the featherweight division and has rattled off three consecutive wins since his return.
Victories over Claudio Puelles and Jalin Turner earned him a fight against Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 305 last August and his win there (which earned him a Fight of the Night bonus) sees him sitting sixth in the UFC lightweight rankings, three places below Gaethje ahead of UFC 313 in March.