Jan 18, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Jamahal Hill (blue gloves) fights Jiri Prochazka (not pictured) during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

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Jamahal Hill Gives Controversial Prediction For Upcoming UFC 313 Main Event!

Former light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill gives his take on the main event of UFC 313 featuring Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev!

Jan 18, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Jamahal Hill (blue gloves) fights Jiri Prochazka (not pictured) during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Everyone has a take when a UFC championship is on the line. Former champions especially carry unique insights. They have been there before. They know the pressure. They understand what it takes to win and lose at the highest level. Their words carry extra weight in the MMA community, particularly when discussing fights in their own division.

Jamahal Hill isn’t afraid to ruffle some feathers with his latest fight prediction. The former UFC light heavyweight champion recently broke down the upcoming title clash between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev set for UFC 313. Despite knowing his prediction might upset fans, Hill is not keeping quiet.

Also Read: Rafael Fiziev Heaps Praise On Justin Gaethje Ahead Of UFC 313 Showdown

Jamahal Hill’s Prediction

The former light heavyweight champion is backing Magomed Ankalaev to dethrone the current champion. He believes that he has the tools to get that belt away from Pereira. This is what he said in his recent YouTube video:

“I’m gonna get hate for this one, but I get hate anyway, f*ck y’all. I’m probably going to go with Magomed. I just got a feeling that he has more tools to win. Obviously Alex has that one-hit wonder. If he catches you, he can put you away, but I believe Magomed also has that… I’m gonna go with Magomed Ankalaev.”

Jamahal Hill picks Magomed Ankalaev to beat Alex Pereira pic.twitter.com/xUrIDwK0Wt
— Dovy🔌 (@DovySimuMMA) March 5, 2025

Jamahal Hill believes the Dagestani challenger simply has more tools to secure victory in this high-stakes matchup. While acknowledging Pereira’s remarkable rise in MMA, Hill insists fans are overlooking Ankalaev’s striking abilities.

Hill sees Ankalaev’s technical abilities and experience as decisive factors. Ankalaev previously fought to a draw against Jan Blachowicz for the vacant title in 2022. That bitter taste of having championship gold slip away might fuel an extra level of determination.

How Do Alex Pereira And Magomed Ankalaev Fare Against Each Other?

Ankalaev’s counter-striking style can be potentially problematic for Pereira. The champion tends to apply pressure and look for big shots. Magomed Ankalaev excels at punishing exactly that approach.

The wrestling factor also plays heavily into Hill’s prediction. Alex Pereira has improved his grappling dramatically since entering MMA. Still, Ankalaev represents an elite wrestling threat. This could force Pereira into uncomfortable positions. The champion might need to take bigger risks as the fight progresses. Those risks create openings for Ankalaev’s counter strikes.

The light heavyweight division has seen dramatic changes in recent years. Jones vacated. Jiri briefly held the belt. Hill won it from Teixeira before injury forced him to surrender it. Now Pereira, a former middleweight, reigns as champion after three knockout title defenses. If Hill’s prediction proves correct, fans will witness yet another changing of the guard in this division. Either way, UFC 313 promises an explosive clash between two of the most dangerous fighters in the sport today!

(Image Credit: Gary A. Vasquez – Imagn Images)

Alex Pereira

Jamahal Hill

Magomed Ankalaev

UFC 313

Zaid Quraishi

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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!