The UFC returns to Las Vegas for UFC 313 this weekend for a huge light heavyweight title fight between reigning champion Alex Pereira and long-time rival Magomed Ankalaev.
The Brazilian is arguably the biggest star in the sport right now and comes into the fight unbeaten in the weight-class, while Ankalaev is considered as the boogeyman of the division with just one defeat in his entire professional career. They'll headline a stacked card that also sees Justin Gaethje return to action in the co-main event in a short-notice fight against Rafael Fiziev.
We'll take a look at the main event and provide you with our best free UFC picks to see if we can earn you some extra cash while watching an incredible fight card.
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UFC 313 information
- Saturday, March 8th 2025
- T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Undisputed Light Heavyweight Championship (205lbs)
- 5 x 5 minute rounds
- Main card start time: 22:00 ET
Alex Pereira v Magomed Ankalaev
Two-weight world champion Pereira has been very active since making his UFC debut, arriving as a Glory Kickboxing two-weight world champion, with a professional MMA record that now stands at just 12-2.
Poatan's debut in the company saw him knockout Andreas Michailidis with a flying-knee at UFC 268, before he earned a very tough unanimous decision win over veteran Bruno Silva. That earned him a title eliminator bout with Sean Strickland, whom he demolished with a trademark left hook in the first round.
That gave him a title shot against long-time rival Israel Adesanya where he claimed a stunning fifth-round come-from-behind knockout win against his rival, but their highly-anticipated rematch several months later saw The Last Stylebender hand Pereira a vicious knockout loss.
The defeat sparked Pereira to move up a division to 205lbs, where he fought former champion Jan Blachowicz in his first outing and claimed a controversial split decision win to earn a title fight against Jiri Prochazka, which he won via knockout to become a two-weight world champion.
He has since defended the championship three imes, knocking out another former champion in Jamahal Hill in the first round of the UFC 300 main event, before head-kicking Prochazka into oblivion at UFC 303 in their rematch and then putting on a masterclass against Khalil Rountree Jr to claim a fourth-round knockout.
Ankalaev lost his UFC debut in a final-second submission to Paul Craig, but has since gone on a stunning 13-fight unbeaten run to rack up a professional record of 19-1-1 (1) with 10 knockouts.
The Dagestani native earned wins over Marcin Prachnio, Klidson Abreu, Dalcha Lungiambula, Ion Cutebala (2), Nikita Krylov, Volkan Oezdemir, Thiago Santos and Anthony Smith to earn a shot at the vacant title against Jan Blachowicz.
But that fight ended in a controversial split draw with Ankalaev's opponent even admitting he felt the Russian had won the fight. He followed that draw with a controversial no contest against Johnny Walker after an illegal knee landed early on which saw him unable to continue.
A rematch between the two saw Ankalaev claim a second-round knockout, before a unanimous decision win over Aleksandar Rakic last time out earned him another opportunity at the belt.
IT’S #UFC313 FIGHT WEEK 🤩
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) March 3, 2025
Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev this Saturday! pic.twitter.com/rdUWAMcH8E
UFC 313: Route to victory
This is a super intriguing stylistic match up between two world-class athletes, which is what makes the fight so exciting for fans.
Pereira is one of the best and most devastating strikers the sport has ever seen, with incredible power in both hands and also an array of kicks to go with it. Ankalaev is also a top striker who has heavy hands and kicking skills, but he also has the added bonus of being an excellent grappler and wrestler from the Dagestani region.
Both fighters in an ideal world would have the fight standing, but Ankalaev has admitted that he is ready to wrestle if necessary and it is likely to be his best route to victory.
While Pereira is officially a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, in reality he is worlds away from that. His takedown defence isn't the strongest and on the ground he generally looks to hold his opponents to prevent damage until the end of the round or until the referee stands them up.
If Ankalaev prioritizes grappling, it will be difficult for Pereira to prevent that. But Ankalaev's ego is likely to play a part in this fight which means there will be striking exchanges and that will give 'Poatan' a huge chance of success.
The champion must push forward to keep Ankalaev going backwards and use his calf kicks before then unloading big combinations against the cage.
Check out our review for BetOnline sports betting here.
UFC Picks: Alex Pereira to retain
Pereira is the favorite coming into this because the fans love him, and he gets big knockouts, but Ankalaev is someone who provides a genuine threat to his crown.
The wrestling aspect of this fight is no doubt a big factor, but it feels like it is being overstated a little. Ankalaev is a striker primarily and will be more comfortable on the feet, and there he is outgunned.
The champion will have a great opportunity to land early blows and take his rival to deep waters for the first time in his career. With genuine one-punch knockout power and championship experience, it's hard to go against Pereira. It may be better to wait until later in the week in case the odds drop, but it's rare you get this value on him to win as it is, so take it.
Check out our review for Bovada sports betting here.
