In a stunning turn of events at UFC 313, Alex Pereira's historic reign as the light heavyweight champion came to an abrupt halt after a loss to Magomed Ankalaev. As the fight unfolded, Pereira struggled to cope with Ankalaev’s relentless pace and pressure, particularly in the later rounds where he found himself clinched against the fence. Although the striking statistics appeared close, Ankalaev delivered the more impactful blows throughout the contest, nearly flooring Pereira with a powerful punch in the second round. Despite facing significant pressure, Pereira managed to withstand Ankalaev’s advances, showcasing a resilience that was not enough to secure a win.
This fight marked a departure from Pereira's previous performances, where he had secured victory in all three of his prior light heavyweight title defenses via knockout. The challenges he faced against Khalil Rountree Jr. appeared to carry over into this bout, leading to what many viewed as an uncharacteristic display of striking and aggression. UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping did not hold back in his post-fight analysis, expressing his concerns regarding Pereira’s performance and questioning his desire to win.
In a video on his YouTube channel, Bisping analyzed Pereira’s performance at UFC 313, stating, “From Alex Pereira, it was just kind of a lazy performance. I didn’t see that real desire to want to win.” He elaborated on how Ankalaev's size and strength posed a significant challenge, noting that while Ankalaev did not execute a takedown, the mere threat of it forced Pereira to adopt a more defensive approach. “For the most part, he was backed up for 25 minutes,” Bisping pointed out, highlighting Pereira's inability to assert himself during the fight.
Bisping further emphasized that while Pereira’s takedown defense was commendable, it does not equate to winning a fight. “You don’t win a fight by defending takedowns,” he continued. Fans have come to expect explosive knockouts from Pereira, and Bisping noted the disappointment in Pereira’s fifth-round performance, where he failed to capitalize on opportunities against a more aggressive Ankalaev.
Prior to the bout, another UFC Hall of Famer, Daniel Cormier, expressed concerns regarding Pereira’s busy schedule, particularly his decision to corner Sean Strickland at UFC 312 just weeks before facing Ankalaev. This hectic lead-up to UFC 313 raised questions about Pereira’s focus and readiness for the fight. Despite feeling he had done enough to earn the victory, Pereira acknowledged the need for adjustments should a rematch with Ankalaev occur, a sentiment echoed by UFC CEO Dana White, who supports the idea of an immediate rematch.
While some critics argue that Pereira's global travels may have hindered his performance, his impressive track record still makes a compelling case for a quick rematch with Ankalaev later this year. After claiming the then-vacant title at UFC 295, Pereira was on the verge of breaking a record previously held by Jon Jones before his loss at UFC 313. His successful title defenses against noteworthy fighters like Jiří Procházka, Jamahal Hill, and Rountree further solidify his standing in the division.
As the MMA community reflects on Pereira's performance and deliberates on the potential for a rematch, fans remain eager to see how the former champion will respond to this setback and what adjustments he will make moving forward.
