Mar 8, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Alex Pereira (red gloves) prepares to fight Magomed Ankalaev (not pictured) during UFC 313 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

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Alex Pereira Loses One Title But Gains Another To Join Elite Company!

Alex Pereira gains entry into exclusive club of champions despite losing his belt to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313

Mar 8, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Alex Pereira (red gloves) prepares to fight Magomed Ankalaev (not pictured) during UFC 313 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Alex Pereira’s 2024 run was nothing short of spectacular. He defended his belt three times in just six months, including standout performances at UFC 300 and UFC 303. These quick turnarounds and dominant wins turned him into something of a mythical figure in the division. Fans and analysts alike started to wonder if anyone could stop the Brazilian striker’s momentum. His powerful left hook became one of the most feared weapons in the sport, earning him the reputation as perhaps the most dangerous striker in UFC history.

Last weekend at UFC 313, fans saw a plot twist when Alex Pereira lost his light heavyweight title to Magomed Ankalaev. But in a strange twist of fate, Pereira gained something else that night – entrance into one of the most exclusive clubs in UFC history.

Also Read: UFC 313 Aftermath – Pereira vs Ankalaev Had a Lot of Similarities to Strickland vs Adesanya!

Bruce Buffer’s Legendary Introduction

Before the first punch was thrown in Las Vegas, Bruce Buffer gave Pereira a rare honor. As Buffer introduced ‘Poatan’ to the crowd, he used four special words:

“The One, The Only.”

This might seem like just a fancy intro, but these words put Pereira in elite company. Only two other fighters have ever received this special introduction. They are Conor McGregor and Jon Jones. Both men are considered legends of the sport, with championship belts and record-breaking pay-per-view numbers to their names.

The timing of Buffer’s special introduction is interesting. McGregor first heard those words when he returned after a long absence to face Donald Cerrone in 2020. Jones received the honor during his heavyweight debut against Ciryl Gane and later against Stipe Miocic.

Unfortunately for Pereira, the special introduction didn’t bring him luck in the fight itself. He struggled against Magomed Ankalaev, spending too much time pressed against the cage and never finding his rhythm. In the end, he lost the decision and his light heavyweight belt along with it.

IT'S ANKALAEV TIME ⏰🏆

Magomed Ankalaev defeats Alex Pereira by Unanimous Decision to BECOME the new light heavyweight champion of the world!

[ B2YB: @WOLFpaktrust ] pic.twitter.com/Q9qA0KrAJ2
— UFC (@ufc) March 9, 2025

So while Pereira may have lost his physical belt, he gained entry into UFC’s verbal hall of fame. And knowing his track record of comebacks, fans wouldn’t bet against seeing “The One, The Only” Alex Pereira reclaiming his title in the near future. After all, legends aren’t made by never falling, they are made by how they rise after the fall.

(Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – Imagn Images)

Alex Pereira

Bruce Buffer

Conor McGregor

Jon Jones

Magomed Ankalaev

UFC 313

Zaid Quraishi

mma

I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!