Magomed Ankalaev took the UFC light-heavyweight title from Alex Pereira on Saturday, ending the fan favourite’s reign with a unanimous-decision win.
Ankalaev won 49-46, 48-47, 48-47 on the judges’ scorecards, as the Russian controlled Pereira in the grappling exchanges and even outstruck the kickboxing icon at UFC 313.
Ankalaev, 32, actually failed with all of his takedowns (more than 10), which will shock those familiar with the general wrestling abilities of Dagestani fighters. However, he held Pereira against the fence for spells of the main-event bout, while proving sharper than the Brazilian in the striking exchanges.
Pereira, an enigmatic knockout artist, just could not get going at the T-Mobile Arena, with Indy Sport scoring the fight comfortably in Ankalaev’s favour. Ankalev’s victory marked the end of an impressive reign for Pereira, 37, who won the belt in late 2023 and recorded three successful title defences in 2024 – all by TKO.
Re-live the UFC 313 main card and prelims live, below.
UFC 313 LIVE: Pereira vs Ankalaev
- Magomed Ankalaev outpoints Alex Pereira to win light-heavyweight title
- Justin Gaethje narrowly outpoints Rafael Fiziev for second time in two years
- Ignacio Bahamondes submits Jalin Turner with early triangle choke
- Amanda Lemos outpoints Iasmin Lucindo in all-Brazilian strawweight bout
- KO of the year contender: Mauricio Ruffy stops King Green with spectacular wheel kick
UFC 313 LIVE: Alex Pereira loses title to Magomed Ankalaev
06:51 , Alex Pattle
Magomed Ankalaev won a largely uneventful fight with Alex Pereira (Getty Images)
UFC 313 LIVE: Alex Pereira loses title to Magomed Ankalaev
06:22 , Alex Pattle
Ankalaev as he was waiting for the scorecards…
UFC 313 LIVE: Alex Pereira loses title to Magomed Ankalaev
06:16 , Alex Pattle
Ankalaev actually went 0-10 on takedowns, at least! I’ve also seen 0-12 and 0-15 reported. But his striking was superior to Pereira’s tonight – not often we can say that.
UFC 313 LIVE: Alex Pereira loses title to Magomed Ankalaev
06:15 , Alex Pattle
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UFC 313 LIVE: Alex Pereira loses title to Magomed Ankalaev
06:07 , Alex Pattle
Pereira: “I knew it would be a war, every fight of mine is a war.
“He put on some pressure, I felt some of his strikes, but putting me up against the cage he didn’t really do anything.
“We followed our strategy, but giving him the win with a gameplan like that, it kind of incentivises people to [just hold you against the fence].
“I’m gonna take a few days off then get back to training.”
UFC 313 LIVE: Alex Pereira loses title to Magomed Ankalaev
06:04 , Alex Pattle
Ankalaev: “I can’t even put it into words, it’s been such a long way, and here’s my dream: it’s on my waist.
“I don’t think anything surprised me. I think I could have done a better job in the fight, but something just wasn’t working out.
“The plan was to pressure, pressure, pressure. Everyone who fights against him always counters, but my job was to fight as No 1.”
UFC 313 LIVE: Alex Pereira loses title to Magomed Ankalaev
06:02 , Alex Pattle
Magomed Ankalaev def. Alex Pereira via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47)
And NEW!! No problem with that at all. Pereira was just not at the races today.
UFC 313 LIVE: Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev
05:59
Round five
Pereira needs a knockout, as Indy Sport sees it. Some people seem to have this fight 2-2, others 3-1 to Ankalaev. Indy Sport has it 4-0 to Ankalaev.
Ankalaev with a clean cross. Now a front kick to the body. Swiping right hook from the challenger.
Good head kick has Ankalaev retreating! The crowd roar on Pereira!
Powerful jab by Pereira snaps back Ankalaev’s head, and the Russian shoots for a takedown.
He won’t get it, but he SHOULD get a decision win here!
UFC 313 LIVE: Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev
05:52
Round four
Into the championship rounds. Ankalaev shoots against the fence and lands knees to the body and thigh of Pereira.
Pereira can’t disengage, and the minutes are slipping by. Referee Marc Goddard warns Ankalaev to work.
The crowd get restless, but both men are throwing strikes in the clinch – still against the fence. But Goddard steps in; wrong call, in my opinion.
The fighters are back in the open, anyhow. Can Pereira do anything here? Another hard body kick from Ankalaev.
Again Ankalaev tries a double-leg, and again he’s denied. Pereira still hasn’t been taken down tonight.
More hard knees to the body by Ankalaev, then an uppercut at point-blank range. Pereira actually throws him to the mat in the final second!
UFC 313 LIVE: Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev
05:46
Round three
Ankalaev continues to kick low to decent effect. More front kicks to the body, too.
Pereira just cannot get going. More leg kicks from the champion, though. That’s better. Now Ankalaev shoots for a double-leg again, but Pereira denies him a takedown.
Good knee to the body by Ankalaev. Pereira is starting to throw with more intent now. The crowd is glad to see it, and they let that be known!
Spearing jab by Ankalaev after a solid right hook. Pereira blocks a head kick.
It could be 3-0 to Ankalaev, or 2-1. I’ve seen a couple of suggestions online of 2-1 to Pereira – wishful thinking?
UFC 313 LIVE: Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev
05:40 , Alex Pattle
Round two
Ankalaev’s team warn him about those low kicks from Pereira. The Russian comes forward early in round two. Pereira swipes with that iconic left hook, but Ankalaev evades.
A front kick to the body sends Pereira staggering backwards. The 205lbers trade body kicks now. Ankalaev goes low.
Pereira tries to get his jab going, but he eats a decent cross. A head kick grazes Ankalaev, but he comes back with a solid overhand! And another!
Ankalaev is just a step ahead for the most part. He lands a nice counter right, then an uppercut. Pereira is throwing back, but without the accuracy of his challenger.
Pereira kicks low, and Ankalaev lands a cross over the top. Ankalaev is winning the exchanges, in general.
OH! Ankalaev with another clean southpaw cross, late in the round, and Pereira stumbles onto the fence!!!
UFC 313 LIVE: Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev
05:34 , Alex Pattle
Round one
Pereira stands orthodox; Ankalaev is southpaw. Pereira edges forward, while Ankalaev feints level changes.
Pereira with some signature low kicks already. He’s landed around seven or eight. Ankalaev with some pawing punches, none of them really landing yet, but he does land a few of his own leg kicks.
Ankalaev with a longer combination now, ending with a blocked head kick. Pereira hasn’t opened up too much.
Now Pereira with a high kick and a wheel kick, but neither lands. Ankalaev with a couple of jabs to the body.
It’s Ankalaev who’s pressing forward now. Front kick to the body. Now he finally shoots for a takedown, but Pereira is able to stay up, standing against the fence!
A close round. Perhaps Ankalaev’s.
UFC 313 LIVE: Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev
05:26
Pereira with his usual death stare at an opponent, after his iconic bow and arrow entrance.
Bruce Buffer with the fighter introductions.
The main event is about 60 seconds away.
UFC 313 LIVE: Pereira was a vital star in a post-McGregor world – but is his time up?
05:22 , Alex Pattle
It has been said that Pereira is ‘speed-running’ a Hall of Fame UFC career, to borrow video-game jargon. That is to say, the Brazilian is blitzing through not only his opponents but also all conceivable achievements.
Within just 12 months of his UFC debut, Pereira claimed middleweight gold, beating his old kickboxing rival Israel Adesanya in 2022. Twelve months later, he snatched another title, beating Jiri Prochazka to become light-heavyweight champion. He stopped both men, by the way, leaving them scrambling for their senses.
And so Pereira achieved the rare status of a two-weight UFC champion in record time, and some feel he can still make more history: as the first three-weight UFC champion.
To attempt such a feat, however, he must navigate a defence against Ankalaev.
A look at how Pereira got here, and whether ‘here’ is the end of his peak:
Pereira was the star the UFC needed in a post-McGregor world – but is his time up?
UFC 313 LIVE: Ankalaev broke Ramadan fast after ‘pleading’ for Pereira fight to be moved
05:19 , Alex Pattle
Ankalaev explained his decision to break fast during Ramadan, while preparing for his fight against Alex Pereira tonight.
As a practising Muslim, Ankalaev has been observing Ramadan, which requires fasting between dawn and sunset from 28 February until 30 March this year.
However, he has had to compromise due to his preparation for UFC 313. More here:
UFC star breaks Ramadan fast after ‘pleading’ for title fight to be moved
UFC 313 LIVE: Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev
05:16
Time for the main event!
Alex Pereira puts his light-heavyweight title on the line, fighting Magomed Ankalaev.
Pereira, a former kickboxing champion, has been a phenom since joining the UFC in 2021. He won middleweight gold in 2022 before moving up to light-heavyweight and adding a second belt in 2023.
Then, last year, he recorded three successful title defences with TKOs of Jamahal Hill, Jiri Prochazka and Khalil Rountree Jr.
The Brazilian’s challenger in Las Vegas tonight is Ankalaev, a Russian who shares the wrestling abilities of many of his fellow Dagestanis – but with solid striking skills to boot.
Still, many fans feel the UFC would rather have a star like Pereira, 37, as champion, not Ankalaev, and the latter has faced a tough route to this title fight.
Ankalaev, 32, actually challenged for the vacant belt in late 2022 but fought Jan Blachowicz to a draw, and more than two years later, he finally gets another shot at gold.
Ring walks imminent.
Alex Pereira (left) will defend his title against Magomed Ankalaev (Getty Images)
UFC 313 LIVE: Justin Gaethje outpoints Rafael Fiziev again
05:09
Justin Gaethje def. Rafael Fiziev via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
That’s how Indy Sport scored it, too. Great fight, as Gaethje does a (narrow) double over Fiziev!
“Let’s never fight again,” Gaethje tells Fiziev, “unless it’s for a belt, and we have to.”
He says he thinks his hand is broken.
Justin Gaethje (right) won a narrow decision over Rafael Fiziev for the second time (AP)
UFC 313 LIVE: Justin Gaethje vs Rafael Fiziev 2
05:06
Round three
This round could be decisive. Again Gaethje with a right hook at close range, then an uppercut. A wheel kick just about lands for Fiziev!
Gaethje finds the rear uppercut again. Good cross from Gaethje, but he leans into a knee again! He beckons on Fiziev, who kicks well to the body.
Great spell by Fiziev here, he’s targeting the body repeatedly. Fiziev catches a head kick, and Gaethje spins and rolls away – ha! We’ve seen that before.
Another clinch sees Fiziev land a slew of knees. Gaethje with one of his own and a left hook. Lovely, creative head kick by Gaethje! How did he flex to land that from so close, to the back of the head?!
Fiziev takes a deep breath. This round was his, but it’s slipping from him. Clubbing right hook by Gaethje, A takedown fails for him, though.
Nice head kick from Gaethje, then a left hook! We’ll go to the scorecards! This was as close as their first fight.
UFC 313 LIVE: Justin Gaethje vs Rafael Fiziev 2
04:59 , Alex Pattle
Round two
Fiziev has a cut on one of his toes on his right foot. He was moving slightly uneasily later in round one. Gaethje with a good combo early in round two.
We have a brief pause after a Fiziev kick lands to the groin area. Back under way. A winging right overhand from Fiziev grazes Gaethje, who lands a right hook in the pocket.
Good left hook to the body by Fiziev. Now a cross to the body. Gaethje fires back with heavy artillery. Body kick from Fiziev.
Gaethje is pressing forward, Solid right hook and right uppercut from him. Fiziev is wincing. OH! Big right hook from Fiziev, but again Gaethje fires back! This is what we expected and wanted!
Gaethje keeps finding a right hook off the break. Now a left. Brilliant knee by Fiziev, which Gaethje leans into, but he drops Fiziev with a heavy uppercut!! Ground and pound now!
Gaethje can’t produce many clean shots, though, and eventually Fiziev stands and lands a head kick.
Gaethje stole that round with the knockdown.
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UFC 313 LIVE: Justin Gaethje vs Rafael Fiziev 2
04:53
Round one
Both men stand orthodox. “U-S-A” is the chant. Gaethje kicks low and edges forward. Now Fiziev is southpaw. He’s switching a lot, actually.
Oh, early trip by Fiziev! Weird entry by Gaethje to allow that, but he is quickly back on his feet. Now Fiziev almost finishes a single-leg, but Gaethje scrambles well.
Strong knee from Fiziev as they stand. A slower spell now. Long rear uppercut lands for Gaethje. Fiziev licks low again; he hasn’t quite found his punching range.
Another decent knee in the clinch, though. And again. And another! Gaethje needs to get free. He does, and both men land punches after a body kick by Fiziev. He lands another.
Gaethje might have just tried a body-lock takedown, a rare bit of wrestling offence from him! But either way, it didn’t come off.
Fiziev is pawing at his right eye, it’s badly swollen. He eats a big right hand. Gaethje shoots for a takedown, is denied, but lands a cross. Now Fiziev with one of his own.
Hard round to score.
UFC 313 LIVE: Justin Gaethje vs Rafael Fiziev 2
04:42 , Alex Pattle
Fiziev is in the ring, now joined by Gaethje.
Azerbaijan’s Fiziev followed his loss to Gaethje with an injury-induced defeat by Mateusz Gamrot later in 2023.
Meanwhile, Gaethje went on to knock out Dustin Poirier – avenging an earlier loss to his fellow American – before suffering an iconic KO at the hands of Max Holloway last April.
Both of these men need a win here. They know that. Here, we, go!
UFC 313 LIVE: Justin Gaethje vs Rafael Fiziev 2
04:35
Tonight’s co-main event is up next!
It sees Justin Gaethje take on Rafael Fiziev in a lightweight rematch, as the latter replaces the injured Dan Hooker.
For many MMA fans, Gaethje vs Hooker was one of the most-anticipated fights of 2025. However, Hooker was forced to withdraw last week, citing a fractured hand.
Fiziev was one of the first lightweights to offer his services as a replacement. He will fight Gaethje two years after losing a narrow decision to the American in London.
Gaethje to fight Fiziev after other UFC stars ‘said no’ in wake of Hooker injury
UFC 313 LIVE: Jalin Turner vs Ignacio Bahamondes
04:25 , Alex Pattle
Round one
These two get at it right away! Turner is usually taller than his opponents, but Bahamondes is a similar height.
Bahamondes with a sloppy entry, a semi-takedown by accident, and Turner lands in half-guard. Now closed guard.
Both men land elbows – Turner from above, Bahamondes from below! Bahaomndes now throws up a triangle choke…
And Turner taps! Oh, it’s over, just like that!
Ignacio Bahamondes def. Jalin Turner via first-round submission (triangle choke, 2:29)
Bahamondes says in his post-fight interview that he “knew” he would submit Turner in round one.
UFC 313 LIVE: Jalin Turner vs Ignacio Bahamondes
04:19
Up to lightweight, where Jalin Turner faces Ignacio Bahamondes.
Bahamondes, one of just two Chilean fighters in UFC history, is seeking a third straight win.
The 27-year-old takes on a seven-year UFC veteran in Turner, who is actually still just 29.
The American is 1-3 in his last four bouts, although the first two of those losses were split decisions. Last time out, he was stopped by Renato Moicano.
UFC 313 LIVE: Amanda Lemos vs Iasmin Lucindo
04:06 , Alex Pattle
Round three
Final round. Lucindo’s corner reallllly tries to fire her up before it begins.
Under way, and Lucindo lands some knees in the clinch before securing a trip. She’s straight into half-guard. It seems she wants an arm-triangle choke eventually, but Lemos frames well to defend.
Lucindo passes into side control, however. Lemos has her toes in the fence, with both feet, but receives no warning from referee Keith Peterson.
She’s managing to limit Lucindo’s submission threat, as the clock runs down. Great work from Lemos to twist, escape and stand! Then she immediately takes down Lucindo!
We’ll go to the scorecards… and the judges get it right!
Amanda Lemos def. Iasmin Lucindo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Amanda Lemos (right) avoids a submission attempts by Iasmin Lucindo (Getty Images)
UFC 313 LIVE: Amanda Lemos vs Iasmin Lucindo
03:59
Round one
Lucindo holds Lemos against the fence in the early grappling exchanges, before Lemos lands a takedown!
Lemos ends up in Lucindo’s guard. Lemos appears hesitant to work, while Lucindo tries to create space for submissions from her back.
Some boos from the crowd after a relatively uneventful stretch of the round.
Slashing elbow from Lemos! That seems to have cut Lucindo under her right eye.
Round two
Between rounds, Lucindo’s corner calls for more action, after she landed zero significant strikes in round one.
She tries a spinning kick, as they suggested, but misses and eats a jab. Harsh low kick by Lemos now, too.
Lucindo gets back to her grappling, controlling Lemos against the fence, until the older Brazilian reverses the position. More boos.
Another elbow from Lemos, from a standing position this time. She trips Lucindo and eyes a guillotine choke… No luck, and she’s back in guard.
UFC 313 LIVE: Amanda Lemos vs Iasmin Lucindo
03:41 , Alex Pattle
An all-Brazilian affair now, as Amanda Lemos and Iasmin Lucindo meet in the women’s strawweight division.
Lucindo, 23, is the youngest female fighter on the UFC roster, and she’s riding a four-fight win streak.
Meanwhile, 37-year-old Lemos is a former title challenger, aiming to get back to winning ways.
Could this be a passing of the torch, though?
UFC 313 LIVE: King Green vs Mauricio Ruffy
03:25
Round one
Ruffy’s stance and movements resemble those of Conor McGregor – before the Irishman ventured into boxing and changed his style somewhat.
Anyhow, Ruffy stands orthodox, unlike McGregor. Green likes to switch stances.
Ruffy presses forward early, seemingly trying to elicit some strikes out of Green, who looks strangely hesitant.
Oh! A clean cross has Green falling back against the fence! Ruffy is not rushing, though…
OH, MY, WORD!!!! Ruffy waits, wait, waits… then lands a wheel kick, cracking the side of Green’s head and knocking him out cold!
Green faceplants. Some moments later, he’s awake, but his face is bloodied. Ruffy celebrates with some flips! KO of the year contender.
Mauricio Ruffy def. King Green via first-round KO (wheel kick, 2:07)
Mauricio Ruffy (left) stunned King Green with a straight punch (Getty Images)
Ruffy then knocked Green out cold with a wheel kick (Getty Images)
Ruffy celebrates in style (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
UFC 313 LIVE: King Green vs Mauricio Ruffy
03:19 , Alex Pattle
Okay then, we kick off the main card with King Green vs Mauricio Ruffy at lightweight.
American Green (who was Bobby until he changed his name to King last year) is a veteran, a sharp boxer – but he faces a tough challenge here.
Ruffy is part of The Fighting Nerds, a Brazilian gym that has been on fire over the last year. The 28-year-old is seeking a seventh straight win.
Meanwhile, 38-year-old Green – in his 51st pro fight – is aiming to bounce back from a submission loss to Paddy Pimblett.
UFC 313 LIVE: Main card begins!
03:04
The main card is finally upon us! Here’s how it looks, working backwards from the main event:
Alex Pereira (C) vs Magomed Ankalaev (light-heavyweight title)
Justin Gaethje vs Rafael Fiziev 2 (lightweight)
Jalin Turner vs Ignacio Bahamondes (lightweight)
Amanda Lemos vs Iasmin Lucindo (women’s strawweight)
King Green vs Mauricio Ruffy (lightweight)
Alex Pereira (left) defends his light-heavyweight title against Magomed Ankalaev tonight (Zuffa LLC)
UFC 313 LIVE: Brunno Ferreira vs Armen Petrosyan
02:20
Round two
Ferreira has landed the more eye-catching shot so far in this round. Petrosyan is having to work hard to stay defensively sound.
Ferreira with a failed double-leg, after telegraphing it too much, but he lands the next one! Petrosyan scoots free and stands at once, though.
Interesting moment now: Ferreira with a clubbing left hook to the waist, but Petrosyan says it was low, and we have another timeout.
Back under way. Hard body kicks from both men, then a big drive double-leg by Ferreira! He wraps up Petrosyan’s legs as they land by the fence.
Ferreira gets to the back but starts to lose position… but he shows slick reactions during a transition, and he catches an armbar! There’s the tap!!
Brunno Ferreira def. Armen Petrosyan via second-round submission (armbar, 4:27)
Brunno Ferreira celebrates his submission of Armen Petrosyan (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
UFC 313 LIVE: Brunno Ferreira vs Armen Petrosyan
02:13 , Alex Pattle
Round one
Petrosyan stalks Ferreira around the ring. The Brazilian switches stances back and forth; Petrosyan does the same. Their frames are so different: Petrosyan is the taller, slimmer man, while Ferreira is shorter and bulkier.
Brilliant switch left hand from Ferreira! Petrosyan eats it well, but his eyes definitely widened!
Brief pause now, after a low blow from Petrosyan. Back under way. Annnnnd… already we have another pause for a low blow by Petrosyan! Wow.
Petrosyan is docked a point! Mark Smith, the referee, not messing about after some fouls (eye pokes) proved decisive in the last two UFC main events.
Ferreira lands a takedown, intercepting a knee strike, but he can’t keep down Petrosyan. Stabbing front kick by Ferreira, who is bleeding slightly from the nose after a cross by Petrosyan.
Leaping knee lands to the body of Ferreira. His striking has sharpened throughout the round.
UFC 313 LIVE: Brunno Ferreira vs Armen Petrosyan
01:56
Can Brazilian fighters go 3-0 so far tonight?
Brunno Ferreira will try to preserve his nation’s record on the UFC 313 prelims, as he fights Armen Petrosyan at 185lb.
Ferreira is 12-2 and has sealed all of his wins via stoppage.
Petrosyan aims to stop a two-fight skid here, having been on the end of that stunning KO by Shara Magomedov in October – the infamous double spinning back fist.
UFC 313 LIVE: Alex Morono vs Carlos Leal
01:47 , Alex Pattle
Round one
Both men stand orthodox. Some winging punches from Morono already.
Leal with a sharp elbow in the clinch. Morono lands a stabbing front kick to the body, but he misses with a spinning back fist.
Leal is fighting on the front foot. He gets through with a cross then a switch left hand.
More straight punches land for Leal, then a clean one-two. Decent head movement by him, before he lands a flurry to the head – then a knee to the body and elbow upstairs!
Morono is landing some counters, but he’s largely eating shots from Leal against the fence! Morono sags to the canvas and tries to grapple, but Leal refuses to engage, beckoning Morono back to his feet.
More violence from Leal, with Morono stood against the fence! How is Morono absorbing this damage?? Eventually referee Keith Peterson steps in! Right call!
Carlos Leal def. Alex Morono via first-round TKO (punches, 4:16)
UFC 313 LIVE: Alex Morono vs Carlos Leal
01:43 , Alex Pattle
We head to the welterweight division now, where Alex Morono takes on Carlos Leal.
It’s another American vs Brazilian match-up! US fighter Morono is 34; Leal is 30.
Each man is aiming to bounce back from a loss here – Morono is on a two-fight losing streak, in fact.
