UFC - UFC 313
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by Devesh Jaganath | in UFC Predictions
The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for UFC 313 this Saturday, headlined by Alex Pereira taking on Magomed Ankalaev for the light heavyweight title. ‘Poatan' has a pro record of 12-2-0, while the challenger is 20-1-1 (1 NC). Let’s get into the match prediction!
Alex Pereira enjoyed an incredible year in the UFC in 2024, knocking out all of Jamahal Hill, Jiri Prochazka and Khalil Roundtree, and he is now searching for his fourth consecutive title defence.
Poatan has beaten six fighters that have held UFC titles in his relatively short amount of time in the UFC, and since moving to the 205-pound ranks, he has a perfect record of 5-0.
While both fighters have fairly similar statures and weight, the Brazilian has a three-inch reach advantage and is an inch taller than his opponent, but he is also five years older than the challenger.
Meanwhile, Magomed Ankalaev has been biding his time for this opportunity to take on the champion, and he delivered two very impressive performances last year to earn his shot at the title.
The Dagestani notched up back-to-back wins over Johnny Walker and Aleksandar Rakic to secure the top contender spot and is now unbeaten in his last 13 pro bouts.
The 32-year-old has said that he does not need to go to the mat to beat Pereira, but many feel that trying to stand and trade blows with the champ could be his undoing.
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Alex Pereira - Magomed Ankalaev: Form Analysis
The one factor that most are aware of is that Pereira’s greatest strength is his stand-up game, as he possesses immense power, as we’ve seen in each of his last three fights.
Thus, the big question here is how the champ will fare if the challenger takes the fight to the mat - something that most have failed to do with any real success against him in recent bouts.
This is especially important, as we saw Ankalaev struggle with leg kicks against Jan Blachowicz, and Poatan’s leg strikes are certainly among the most dangerous in the division.
Additionally, during the lead-up to this fight, Ankalaev was clearly the more emotional fighter, and as we know all too well, this is something that can be a major factor, as we saw with Israel Adesanya against Dricus Du Plessis last year.
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Alex Pereira & Magomed Ankalaev Squad Analysis
Continuing on the theme of the stand-up game, we saw Pereira find great joy against Prochazka at UFC 303 with feints and shot kicks.
This became increasingly evident when the Czech began dropping his guard to defend the low strikes, which allowed the Brazilian to drop him with a thunderous head kick.
While Ankalaev is arguably a more well-rounded fighter than Prochazka, he certainly does have a tendency to lose concentration, as we saw at UFC 284 when he delivered an illegal knee to Walker.
Takedowns will also be tough for the challenger, with Pereira improving his defence immensely in recent times - therefore, this could be a fight where Ankalaev may need to hold out for five rounds and take it to the judges.
Alex Pereira - Magomed Ankalaev Key Points
- Alex Pereira’s last fight went to four rounds.
- Magomed Ankalaev is unbeaten in his last 13 fights.
- Five of Magomed Ankalaev’s last eight fights have gone three or more rounds.
- Magomed Ankalaev has never been knocked out in the UFC.
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Our Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev Prediction
Whenever we recap Pereira’s accomplishments inside the Octagon, it becomes more and more astonishing to realise the magnitude of what he has achieved. Yet, this match is still widely considered Poatan’s greatest ever challenge.
Ankalaev, like most Dagestani fighters in the UFC, is as hard as nails and has never been knocked out, which is something that Poatan relies heavily on in most fights. The champ may defend his crown here, but it would not surprise us if this one goes the distance. Our Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev prediction is over 2.5 rounds.
Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev - Other Interesting Predictions
Alex Pereira wins the match
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Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev match : Frequently asked questions
UFC 313 Pereira vs Ankalaev will take place on March 8 at 08:00 GMT.
UFC 313 Pereira vs Ankalaev will return to the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
UFC 313 Pereira vs Ankalaev will be broadcast on TNT Sports, ESPN+ and Disney+. You can also opt for a subscription viewing option via UFC Fight Pass.
All tips are fully researched and given in good faith, but profits cannot be guaranteed.
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