Magomed Ankalaev just scored the biggest win of his career, dethroning Alex Pereira to become the UFC light heavyweight champion at UFC 313. The fight, held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, saw Ankalaev battle through a tough opening round before taking over and earning a unanimous decision victory. With this win, he extends his streak to 14 consecutive victories, cementing his place at the top of the division.
Pereira, ranked No. 2 pound-for-pound by ESPN, came in as the favorite and looked sharp early. But as the fight wore on, his gas tank started to empty, while Ankalaev only got stronger. This marks Pereira’s first loss at 205 pounds, shaking up the division’s landscape.
The co-main event delivered another war, as Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev clashed in a rematch of their razor-thin 2023 showdown. The first fight ended in a majority decision win for Gaethje, and this time, he left no doubt, securing a unanimous decision victory. Fiziev, stepping in on short notice after Dan Hooker pulled out with a hand injury, showed heart but couldn’t overcome Gaethje’s relentless pressure.