The nightmare continues for Alex Pereira now that we’ve got a new king at light heavyweight.
The fight feature Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev wasn’t a headline-stealing, jaw-dropping, oh-my-God-did-you-see-that kind of moment at UFC 313. But make no mistake—Ankalaev walked into that cage with a plan, executed it to near perfection, and left with the belt wrapped around his waist. Whether you love it, hate it, or still aren’t quite sure what to make of it, it’s here, and it’s real.
THE BREAKDOWN: HOW ANKALAEV GOT IT DONE
Alex Pereira came in as the pound-for-pound wrecking machine, the guy who could knock you into next week with a single left hook. But Ankalaev? He had other ideas. From the jump, he smothered Pereira with pressure, never letting him get comfortable. Every time Pereira set his feet, Ankalaev was in his face, shooting for takedowns, clinching, dragging him into the kind of grinding fight that saps your energy and erases your rhythm.
Look, it’s not the sexiest way to win a fight but the fact is Ankalaev flat out controled the fight despite Pereira getting in his shots.
And let’s not forget the second round—that was the moment. Ankalaev caught Pereira clean and had him wobbling, and if there had been just ten more seconds on that clock, we might have seen a finish. But Pereira, tough as nails, survived, and we went the full 25 minutes.
In the end, it wasn’t the fight of the year, and Dana White wasn’t exactly thrilled, but a win’s a win, and Ankalaev now sits atop the 205-pound division.
THE POUND-FOR-POUND SHAKEUP
Now, here’s where things get interesting; following the fight, the new pound-for-pound rankings are out, and Pereira, once riding high, took another beating. The UFC star didn’t just drop a few rankings; he plummeted from third to ninth. All the while, Ankalaev makes his grand entrance into the top ten. You can love, hate, or scream about the decision on social media. It doesn’t matter. The rankings committee, which includes some of the sharpest minds in the sport, has spoken.
For those keeping score at home, the panel includes Ben Fowlkes, Chuck Mindenhall, Shaheen Al-Shatti, Petesy Carroll, Drake Riggs, Eric Jackman, and Conner Burks. They used a weighted points system—meaning being ranked No. 1 gives a fighter 10 points, No. 2 gets nine, and so on—to determine the final list.
And before anyone starts asking, “Wait, why isn’t Fighter X or Fighter Y on here?” here’s the deal: A fighter has to have competed within a year of publication or at least have a fight booked within that time. No activity, no ranking. Retire? You’re out. It’s as simple as that.
DANA WHITE: NOT IMPRESSED, BUT READY TO RUN IT BACK
Now, for those thinking the judge’s decision in the Pereira fight was garbage, there may be some hope.
Dana White has hinted there may be a rematch coming as soon as possible.
“It was not what I expected,” White said bluntly at the post-fight presser. “I expected a lot more shooting. I expected a lot more exchanges.”
Translation: He wanted a war, and what he got was a technical chess match. And let’s be honest: UFC brass loves a brawl. The crowd loves a brawl. Tactical, low-volume fights? It’s not exactly what gets people racing to buy pay-per-views.
But here’s the key—despite being underwhelmed, White still thinks the right man won. “I don’t know if I had the exact score in my head, but I thought Ankalaev won the fight,” he admitted. “I wasn’t shocked when I heard the decision.”
Fans may not like it but Dana has a point. This is a fight, and if one man is controlled and shut down, that’s not his fault. Honestly, it’s Pereria’s fault for letting a guy imposes his will on you and I don’t care it he’s stalling. If you are trapped in the cage or stuck on the bottom, that’s your problem, and you need to get back to your feet. Ankalaev shouldn’t be punished (even if the fight was lackluster) for executing the gameplan his coaches put together for him to win the fight.
One of the worst things you can do is play your opponent’s game. That’s how you get into trouble. You win by executing your strengths, not your opponents’.
Look, I’ve never stepped into the cage but I’ve been grappling long enough to know that when you start playing your opponents game you are in trouble.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR BOTH FIGHTERS?
Probably a rematch.
Asked if Ankalaev vs. Pereira 2 was in the cards, White’s answer was short and to the point: “Probably.”
Not to mention, Ankalaev seems to be a company man who will go with the matchmakers.
As for Pereira, this loss stings, but he’s still one of the biggest names in the sport, and if that rematch happens, you better believe he’s going to come back with adjustments. This wasn’t a one-sided beatdown. Pereira had his moments. He’s got the experience, the power, and the fight IQ to turn things around. If we get Ankalaev vs. Pereira 2, it’s going to be a must-watch TV.
