Magomed Ankalaev dethrones Alex Pereira: crowned new light heavyweight champion at UFC 313

After weeks of back-and-forth teasing, champion Alex Pereira squared off against top 205-pound rival Magomed Ankalaev for the light heavyweight title in Saturday's main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

At UFC 295 in November 2023, Pereira defeated Jiri Prochazka to win the title, which was up for grabs.

He defended the championship three times, finishing each challenger but met his equal this time

Ankalaev received a second shot at UFC gold after winning consecutive bouts after not losing since 2018.

Pereira took the octagon's center in the opening round, scampered forward, and kept aiming for Ankalaev's lead leg.

Late in the round, Ankalaev began to put pressure on Pereira, trying hard to obtain a takedown in the last seconds.

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In the second round, Pereira resumed kicking his calf after Ankalaev had come out pressing him and delivered a counter left hook.

Pereira started to exert pressure on Ankalaev. At the end of the round, Dagestan's name connected with a left to knock Pereira down after they exchanged right hands.

As he maintained pressure on Pereira, who kept focusing on his legs, Ankalaev briefly considered a takedown after a pair of leg kicks.

According to the scorecards, which read 49-46, 48-47, and 48-47, the judges unanimously decided that Ankalaev had won the bout.