Dec 10, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Magomed Ankalaev (blue gloves) reacts after the fight against Jan Blachowicz (red gloves) during UFC 282. The fight was called in a draw at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

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

Magomed Ankalaev reveals his intent to finish the fight for the main event of UFC 313 against champion Alex Pereira

Fighting for gold changes fighters. The pressure builds. The stakes rise. Every punch matters more. For Magomed Ankalaev, his first UFC title shot ended in bitter disappointment. No gold. No glory. Just confusion and frustration when the scorecards read a split draw against Jan Blachowicz at UFC 282 in December 2022.

The Dagestani fighter thought he had done enough. Many fans and fighters agreed. Even Blachowicz himself verbally said to give Ankalaev the belt. But the judges had other ideas. That night, the light heavyweight title remained vacant, and Ankalaev’s nine-fight winning streak felt oddly incomplete. The memory of that controversial draw still haunts him as he prepares for his second chance at UFC gold against Alex Pereira at UFC 313.

Also Read: ‘I Hope You Ready’ – Magomed Ankalaev Sends Chilling Message To Alex Pereira Ahead Of UFC 313

The Controversial Draw That Changed Everything

Magomed Ankalaev dominated the championship rounds against Jan Blachowicz at UFC 282. He secured takedowns. He controlled the ground and he seemed to be doing everything right. Then came the scorecards: 48-47 Blachowicz, 48-46 Ankalaev, and the fatal blow – a 47-47 draw from judge Sal D’Amato (by the way, he is judging the UFC 313 main event as well!).

"Give the belt to [Magomed]
Ankalaev."

Jan Blachowicz said Ankalaev should have the light heavyweight belt after their split draw at #UFC282 pic.twitter.com/MRZJPxNERv
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 11, 2022

The UFC quickly moved on, booking Glover Teixeira against Jamahal Hill for the still-vacant title just a month later. Ankalaev was left to rebuild, wondering if politics or style had cost him his moment. Two years later, that experience has shaped his mindset for his upcoming title challenge.

Magomed Ankalaev’s Plan For The UFC 313 FIght

While talking to The Schmo, Ankalaev gave his insight on how he would want this fight against Alex Pereira to go. He is confident that he will do anything to secure a finish against the champion, as he does not want to put his fate in the hands of the judges again.

“Now i have to do everything to grab the belt, grab my opponent, and do whatever i can to finish him soon.”

The Dagestani fighter has a massive advantage in the grappling area. If he manages to evade Pereira’s power and take him to the ground, his odds of winning shoot up rapidly. And given his statement about ‘doing anything,’ it is safe to say that takedowns will be involved!

Ankalaev’s Problem With Alex Pereira

The animosity between Magomed Ankalaev and current champion Alex Pereira has been simmering for months. Ankalaev believes Pereira deliberately avoided fighting him, denying him his rightful title shot. But eventually, White revealed that the UFC 313 main event would be between these two rivals.

The tension escalated when Ankalaev tweeted at Pereira: “You just signed your death certificate. I’m gonna punish you for ducking me.” The message wasn’t subtle. Neither was his follow-up promise to make Pereira “look like a guy who works in a tire shop not a professional fighter.”

10 DAYS TO GO 🤩 #UFC313

Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev… who you got?! pic.twitter.com/9bgMD9DBzm
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) February 26, 2025

Meanwhile, Pereira’s preparation has raised eyebrows. The champion was spotted in Australia just weeks before the fight, shaking hands with Drake at a concert—prompting concerns about the infamous “Drake curse” and questions about his training focus. Though Pereira insists everything is planned, taking his “whole team down there,” many wonder if he is taking the Magomed Ankalaev threat seriously enough.

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

Alex Pereira

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!