Apr 13, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Alex Pereira (red gloves) reacts after defeating Jamahal Hill (not pictured) during UFC 300 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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Alex Pereira Extends High Stake Bet To His Fight Against Magomed Ankalaev At UFC 313!

Alex Pereira places a high-stakes bet ahead of his fight with Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313, raising the tension!

Apr 13, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Alex Pereira (red gloves) reacts after defeating Jamahal Hill (not pictured) during UFC 300 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

MMA fighters are known for their pre-fight antics to build hype. From trash talk to social media jabs, fans have seen it all. But sometimes, fighters take things up a notch by putting their money where their mouth is. UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira has done exactly that ahead of his upcoming title defense against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313.

Also Read: Magomed Ankalaev Dreads The Scorecards, Wants A Finish At UFC 313

The Bet Worth Considering

‘Poatan’ recently threw down a massive challenge to his opponent. He proposed a $200,000 bet on their fight scheduled for March 8 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. But there is a catch – the money wouldn’t line the winner’s pockets but would go to a charity of their choice. This kind of gesture shows Pereira’s confidence in a fight that is already shaping up to be a thrilling matchup.

“Since you are so confident you will win, $200,000 to the winners charity of choice. Win or lose this will help those in need. It’s in your hands @AliAbdelaziz00 @AnkalaevM,” wrote Pereira in a post on X.

Since you are so confident you will win, $200,000 to the winners charity of choice. Win or lose this will help those in need. It’s in your hands @AliAbdelaziz00 @AnkalaevM
— Alex "Poatan" Pereira (@AlexPereiraUFC) March 3, 2025

The Brazilian champion has been on an absolute tear since moving to MMA from kickboxing. His 2024 campaign was nothing short of spectacular, featuring knockout victories over Jamahal Hill, Jiri Prochazka, and Khalil Rountree Jr. With each devastating finish, Pereira has solidified his reputation as one of the most fearsome strikers in UFC history. This bet seems to be his way of saying he is not worried about what many consider his toughest challenge yet.

However, this high-stakes wager is likely to go unanswered. Ankalaev, a devout Muslim, is unlikely to accept due to his religious beliefs that forbid gambling. Currently observing Ramadan, the holy month for Muslims, the Dagestani would find accepting such a bet particularly inappropriate.

What Can Fans Expect?

The back-and-forth between these two elite fighters has been brewing for some time. Magomed Ankalaev has been on an impressive 13-fight unbeaten streak and many believe his well-rounded skill set might be the perfect counter to Pereira’s striking dominance. While Alex Pereira has steamrolled through primarily striking-based opponents, Ankalaev brings strong wrestling credentials to the table. This could potentially be the kryptonite to the champion’s game.

🗣️Alex Pereira: “If things don’t go his way, he’ll try to take me down… that’s when I’ll surprise him.”

🗣️Magomed Ankalaev: “If I fight stand-up, he will have to stand and strike. If I want to wrestle, there will be wrestling. It’s 100% victory for us.”pic.twitter.com/0Yjm4cRNUG
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) March 1, 2025

As fans approach fight night, the focus will eventually shift from side bets to the actual matchup. Can Ankalaev’s grappling neutralize Pereira’s devastating striking? Will Pereira continue his knockout streak? Or will Ankalaev finally claim the title that has eluded him since his controversial draw with Jan Blachowicz? Whatever happens, one thing’s certain – with or without the $200,000 side bet, UFC 313’s main event has all the ingredients to be an absolute classic!

(Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – Imagn Images)

Alex Pereira

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!