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Light Heavyweight Title Changes Hands as Ankalaev Claims Championship in Tactical Pereira-vs-Ankalaev-1 Magomed Ankalaev has ended the brief reign of Alex Pereira, securing the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship via a unanimous decision victory in a tightly contested bout that prioritised strategic pressure over knockout power. The contest, officially labelled Pereira-vs-Ankalaev-1, concluded the UFC 313 card in Las Vegas, shifting the landscape of the division. The five-round championship contest delivered a performance marked by calculated aggression and positional control from the Russian challenger, frustrating the powerful striking game of the champion, Alex "Poatan" Pereira. Judges ultimately scored the bout 49-46, 48-47, and 48-47 in favour of Ankalaev, bringing the curtain down on Pereira’s tenure as champion just months after he claimed the belt. The result affirmed Ankalaev’s position as one of the most technically proficient competitors in the sport, extending his remarkable unbeaten streak to 14 matches. Pereira, a two-division champion and former world kickboxing star, entered the bout as the marginal favourite, largely owing to his fearsome knockout power, demonstrated by his rapid ascent through the mixed martial arts ranks. However, the contest became a battle of attrition and range management, two areas where Ankalaev proved superior throughout the middle and later rounds. The opening stanza saw Pereira operate in his signature style, employing heavy leg kicks that have traditionally crippled his opponents’ mobility.
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Ankalaev, however, exhibited granite defence and an unyielding forward approach, effectively cutting off the cage and neutralising the Brazilian’s preferred space to operate. By the championship rounds—the fourth and fifth—Ankalaev’s strategy of continuous pressure began to pay dividends, visibly impacting Pereira’s pace and output. While Ankalaev is renowned for his wrestling base, the fight was won predominantly on the feet and along the cage. Despite being unsuccessful on all 12 of his recorded takedown attempts, the consistent threat of the takedown forced Pereira onto the back foot, preventing him from unleashing the counter-striking combinations that define his best performances. Ankalaev successfully controlled Pereira for over five minutes of the contest, pinning him against the fence and winning crucial minutes on the judges' scorecards. In the aftermath of the decision, debate emerged among analysts regarding the scoring, particularly concerning the tactical nature of Ankalaev’s approach. Many suggested the victory was a triumph of game planning over raw spectacle, praising the Russian’s composure under the bright lights of a main event. Speaking on the performance, veteran analyst and former UFC competitor Daniel Cormier noted that Ankalaev had executed his blueprint perfectly.
“He did everything he had to do,” Cormier observed. “He pressured [Pereira] on the feet, he showed that Pereira has a harder time fighting off the back foot, and he did what needed to be done. ” The result was less well-received by the now-former champion. Pereira criticised his opponent’s approach in the post-fight media conference, suggesting Ankalaev was more interested in neutralising offence than engaging. “We know that he puts people against the fence, and he plays that game,” Pereira remarked, questioning whether “giving him the win with a game plan like that kind of incentivises people to do that. ” Nevertheless, experts pointed out that the statistics supported Ankalaev's victory. He managed a notable edge in significant strikes landed and dictated the positional exchanges, successfully taking the former champion out of his comfort zone. The consensus among officials was that Ankalaev had won the middle three rounds, proving sufficient to secure the unanimous decision.
For Magomed Ankalaev, the victory represents the culmination of a patient and disciplined journey to the summit of the Light Heavyweight division, finally capturing the undisputed title following his controversial draw in a prior title bout in 2022. The 33-year-old expressed immediate ambition to cement his legacy, stating through an interpreter that he intends to defend the belt multiple times before considering a move to the Heavyweight class. Conversely, the defeat places Alex Pereira at a critical juncture in his career. At 38, questions regarding his activity level and quick turnaround times between championship fights have been raised. However, given his star power and the immediate demand from fans and the organisation, a rematch—the inevitable "Pereira vs. Ankalaev 2"—is likely to materialise quickly, giving the Brazilian a direct path to regain the coveted gold. The outcome of Pereira-vs-Ankalaev-1 solidifies a new dynamic at the top of the Light Heavyweight division, rewarding Ankalaev’s technical mastery while setting the stage for one of the most compelling immediate rematches the sport can offer. The question now moves from who the better fighter is, to how Pereira can adjust his famously aggressive style to counteract the sophisticated, stifling pressure of the new champion.
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