UFC 313 Results - Magomed Ankalaev Shocks The World, Shuts Down Alex Pereira For The LHW Title

UFC 313 Results – Magomed Ankalaev Shocks The World, Shuts Down Alex Pereira For The LHW Title

Magomed Ankalaev dethrones reigning champion Alex 'Poatan' Pereira in an upset that shocked the entire world!

UFC 313 Results - Magomed Ankalaev Shocks The World, Shuts Down Alex Pereira For The LHW Title

The MMA world has always been defined by its unpredictability. Champions rise and fall, often when we least expect it. Last night at UFC 313, fans witnessed another chapter in this ever-evolving story as Magomed Ankalaev finally claimed the gold that had eluded him for years. The T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas became the stage for another dramatic shift in the UFC’s light heavyweight landscape, with the Dagestani fighter dethroning one of the organization’s most feared champions.

Alex Pereira had been on a remarkable run since moving up to 205 pounds, with his devastating knockout power making him arguably the UFC’s biggest active star. But as history has shown us time and again in combat sports, styles make fights, and sometimes the perfect counterpoint to a dominant champion has been waiting in the wings all along.

Also Read: UFC 313 Results – Mauricio Ruffy’s Spinning Kick From Hell Puts King Green To Sleep, Calls Out UFC Top 10 Lightweight

Magomed Ankalaev Dethrones ‘Poatan’

Ankalaev’s path to victory wasn’t flashy or filled with highlight-reel moments. However, it was tremendously effective. After weathering an early storm of brutal leg kicks in the first round that had him visibly limping, the Dagestani fighter found his rhythm and began implementing his game plan.

He consistently pressed forward, becoming the aggressor and forcing Pereira onto his back foot. The turning point came late in the second round when Ankalaev landed a massive left hand that had the champion wobbling. From there, Ankalaev mixed striking with clinch work against the fence, neutralizing Pereira’s feared knockout power.

MAGOMED ANKALAEV DEFEATS ALEX PEREIRA BY UNANIMOUS DECISION! (49-46, 48-47, 48-47)

AND NEW!!! #UFC313 pic.twitter.com/hSGH6e8gIy
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) March 9, 2025

While the champion successfully defended all 12 takedown attempts, the constant threat of wrestling and the pressure against the cage sapped his energy and limited his offensive output. When Pereira did find success in the fifth round with some sharp strikes, it was too little too late. The judges scored it 49-46, 48-47, 48-47 for Magomed Ankalaev, crowning a new champion to a lot of boos from the pro-Pereira crowd.

The Champion’s Post-Fight Speech

After his controversial draw against Jan Blachowicz for the vacant title back in December 2022, this moment represented redemption for the 32-year-old fighter. As Joe Rogan put the mic on him, this is what an emotional Ankalaev said through his translator during the post-fight interview.

“I can’t even put it into words. It’s been such a long way, and it’s my dream. It’s on my waist. The plan was to pressure, pressure, pressure. Everybody who fights against [Pereira] always counters, but my job was to make sure that I work as number one, and everybody who fights against me becomes the counter-striker, and my plan worked.”

This approach makes Magomed Ankalaev the third fighter from Dagestan to capture UFC gold. He followed in the footsteps of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev. The victory extends his unbeaten streak to an impressive 14 fights, the second-best mark in light heavyweight history.

However, as is always, there is still controversy among fans. They believe that Pereira was robbed, especially with the third round. But the decision stands, and Magomed Ankalaev is the new light heavyweight champion of the world!

(Image Credit: UFC News -X)

Alex Pereira

Magomed Ankalaev

UFC 313

UFC 313 Result

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!