Alex Pereira will look to defend his UFC light heavyweight belt for the fourth time when he takes on Magomed Ankalaev. Find out how we expect the light heavyweight champion to perform against the Dagestani challenger in our Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev betting preview.
Pereira has been an unstoppable force since starting his light heavyweight career. He has won all five fights in the division so far. As a reward, he gets a UFC 313 headline act against Ankalaev at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night. Ankalaev will be no easy opposition, as the 32-year-old boasts a 13-fight unbeaten streak ahead of the fight.
| ℹ️ Event: | UFC 313 Main Event, for Light Heavyweight Championship title |
| 🏟️ Venue: | T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, USA |
| 🗓️ Date: | 8 March 2025 |
| ⏰ Time: | From 3 AM GMT on Sunday |
Mobile betting sites for UFC have given their verdict ahead of the fight. Here’s how the Pereira vs Ankalaev odds look like before the UFC 313 main event:
The odds are razor thin, so there are no clear favorites in this fight. Pereira enjoys slightly shorter odds, but he knows he is about to face arguably the toughest challenge in his reign to hold on to his throne.
Ankalaev could not capitalize on his first world title window, but he did not lose it either. The three-time WMMAA gold medallist will aim to make amends for his narrow miss in his first attempt. Read on to find out how we think the fight will end in our UFC 313 Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev predictions.
We need to look at the recent form of both fighters to form rational Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev tips. Pereira also conquered the UFC middleweight division, but his reign was short-lived.
The best MMA bookies in 2025, however, will focus more on his light heavyweight form ahead of this fight. Pereira has been flawless since his light heavyweight debut, with wins against Jan Blachowicz, Jiri Prochazka, Jamahal Hill, and Khalil Rountree Jr.
Pereira is the better puncher between the two. In fact, we would argue that there are no better punchers than him in the division right now. He can breach Ankalaev’s defense with an onslaught of punches, but it’s Pereira’s leg kicks that could be the decisive factor in this fight. Ankalaev has struggled against leg kicks in the past, and Pereira’s leg kicks can make the contest incredibly difficult for him.
Ankalaev has been unbeaten since his UFC debut loss to Paul Craig seven years ago. Bookies for PFL and UFC are treating this fight so close because Ankalaev has beaten and survived an impressive range of fighters afterward.
In UFC 282, Ankalaev faced Blachowicz for the vacant light heavyweight title. The fight, however, ended in a split draw. Three years after his near-miss, Ankalaev gets to fight for the crown once again. In between, he has defeated Johnny Walker and Aleksandar Rakic.
Ankalaev will try to make use of his strong Sambo background and take the fight to the ground. Pereira cannot match Ankalaev’s grappling skills, so the 32-year-old will look to settle the fight with his superior wrestling and grappling qualities. Stats suggest that Ankalaev also has a slight edge in defensive capabilities. If he can limit the damage and drag Pereira into a grappling battle, Ankalaev could very well come out on top.
Sportsbooks are offering exciting deals on the UFC 313 main event. We have explored the top betting platforms to finalize the following UFC 313 Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev predictions:
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This is going to be a close fight until it’s not. Pereira has been on a roll since stepping foot in the light heavyweight scene. Ankalaev is an excellent fighter, and he might give Pereira a hard time. But a deeper look at the matchup has us convinced that Pereira has all the necessary weapons in his arsenal to prolong the Dagestani’s wait for a world title.
The Brazilian has come up against some quality fighters in the light heavyweight division. He made light work of Blachowicz, who nearly picked up a win against Ankalaev. Of course, Ankalaev has his strengths, and if he can turn this into a grappling fight, it could spell trouble for Pereira. But the current form indicates the reigning light heavyweight champion will not allow the fight to be dictated.
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Pereira has won via KO or TKO in his last four fights. His victim list features formidable fighters like Prochazka, Hill, and Rountree Jr. Ankalaev is yet to suffer a KO defeat in his career, but Pereira will bring unparalleled punching power to the Octagon. So, we believe a KO victory for Pereira is the likely outcome in this battle.
Pereira comes into this fight in excellent form. Ankalaev should pose a significant threat inside the cage, but our final Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev tips foresee a solid win for the defending champion.
