UFC 313 is now only a couple of days away, and what better way to get hyped for the upcoming pay-per-view than with some MMA News staff predictions?

The event will be available exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view on Saturday, March 8. The main card begins at 10 PM ET, while the preliminary card kicks off at 6:30 PM ET.

The main event will see light heavyweight kingpin Alex Pereira defend his title for the fourth time since capturing it at the expense of Jiří Procházka 16 months ago. To continue his reign, “Poatan” is tasked with spoiling the ambitions of top contender Magomed Ankalaev.

Co-headlining will be former interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje, who will look to bounce back from his brutal knockout loss to Max Holloway last April by once again getting the better of striking specialist Rafael Fiziev.

Elsewhere on the card, entertaining lightweights Jalin Turner and Ignacio Bahamondes collide, ex-strawweight title challenger Amanda Lemos looks to halt up-and-coming Iasmin Lucindo’s rise, and Fighting Nerds standout Mauricio Ruffy meets King Green.

UFC 313: MMA News Staff Predictions

Ahead of Saturday’s UFC 313 event, Thomas Albano, Ryan Jarrell, Pranav Pandey, and Aakrit Sharma have provided their picks for the five matchups set for the main card.

Below, you can check out the current leaderboard through two cards in 2025.

1. Thomas Albano (6-2) & Pranav Pandey (6-2)
2. Ryan Jarrell (4-4) & Aakrit Sharma (4-4)

And with that, it’s time for the team’s predictions for UFC 313.

Lightweight: King Green vs. Mauricio Ruffy

Thomas Albano: I want to commend King Green for the run and wins that he continues to have all these years later in the UFC – at the age of 38. But this is a problem fight for him. Mauricio Ruffy and the Fighting Nerds have been the biggest names to watch for this year in the UFC. The team dominated the scene in 2024 and continues to rack up wins and popularity. Ruffy is a dangerous finisher who can give Green, who has finishing ability and power in his own right, trouble. Someone on the Fighting Nerds should be UFC champion within these next couple of years. Mark my words. (Prediction: Mauricio Ruffy)

Ryan Jarrell: I’ve always been a big fan of Green’s fan-friendly fighting style. He always comes to fight, even if it gets him into a bit of trouble. At some point, Father Time catches up to us all, and I think that time is getting very close for the 26-fight UFC veteran. Ruffy is just 28 years old and is coming into this fight with a ton of momentum and confidence. If he fights smart and doesn’t get dragged into a dog fight, then it’s his fight to lose. Give me the young lion to kick off the PPV card with a win. (Prediction: Mauricio Ruffy)

Pranav Pandey: This feels like a brutal assignment for the American, and I can’t help but think the matchmakers did him no favors with this one. Green brings swagger to the cage, pairing it with a slick boxing game, but he’s up against a relentless young menace with a knack for finishing fights. Ruffy’s surge is undeniable, and underestimating him would be a mistake. He’s got the power, elite grappling, and a killer instinct to make this a nightmare for Green — and I wouldn’t be surprised if he adds another stoppage to his record. (Prediction: Mauricio Ruffy)

Aakrit Sharma: Ruffy’s last win against James Llontop was a good showcase of his striking. He has yet another durable opponent in Green, who wouldn’t mind a standup battle for three rounds. The lightweight veteran looked impressive against Jim Miller, but he’s started to struggle against up-and-coming talent or explosive strikers such as Paddy Pimblett, Jalin Turner, and Drew Dober. At 38 years old, I’m not expecting him to get any better skill-wise, and at UFC 313, he’s likely being used to push Ruffy up the rankings and help the McGregor-esque striker become a bigger draw.

All things considered, this should be an easy win for the Brazilian at UFC 313, and I don’t think Green’s ground game is threatening enough to pull off a submission upset. (Prediction: Mauricio Ruffy)

Consensus: 4-0 Mauricio Ruffy

Women’s Strawweight: Amanda Lemos vs. Iasmin Lucindo

Thomas Albano: Amanda Lemos is going to look for a needed bounce-back victory at UFC 313 after getting submitted by Virna Jandiroba in what some might consider an upset. Lemos is still a top name at 115 pounds but has now lost two of three, which includes an unsuccessful challenge of champion Weili Zhang. Iasmin Lucindo lost her UFC debut but has since won four straight, which includes wins over Polyana Viana, Karolina Kowalkiewicz, and Marina Rodriguez. A win over Lemos would vault her right into one of the names to consider as a top contender.

This is the experience vs. youth battle, and Lucindo may be able to battle for control in grappling situations against Lemos. The former title challenger, however, has power that Lucindo has not come across before, and that could spell trouble for the 23-year-old. (Prediction: Amanda Lemos)

Ryan Jarrell: In the fight game, the young usually eats the old. According to the odds, that’s what may happen here. But Lemos still has plenty left in the tank as far as I’m concerned. Yes, she was caught by Jandiroba in her most recent fight. But outside of that, she’s into lost to Weili and Jéssica Andrade. I just don’t think she is done just yet. Give me the veteran to hold off the charging youngster and win a decision. (Prediction: Amanda Lemos)

Pranav Pandey: The all-Brazilian duel I never knew I needed. Lemos, the seasoned veteran, undoubtedly holds the edge in experience, but the scales seem tilted against her in this matchup. The former title challenger is up against a younger, hungrier opponent with heavier hands, slicker grappling, and a growing reputation for dismantling strawweight veterans. If Lucindo can dictate the pace, I believe she’ll take control and make this fight her own. (Prediction: Iasmin Lucindo)

Aakrit Sharma: This is another veteran vs. newcomer matchup in the UFC women’s strawweight division. To be fair, it’s hard to pick who will favor the 14-year age gap more. While Lucindo, 23, has the potential to show up better with every new fight, Lemos has already faced the top competitors of the division and has impressive wins over the likes of Mackenzie Dern and Angela Hill. Lucindo is an undeniable prospect with a bright future ahead of her. However, after her last fight, I concluded that her time to grab or fight for the title is still far, and she needs to improve her striking significantly.

Even if she wins this weekend at UFC 313, she’ll be heavily outclassed by the division’s top five, which contains Jéssica Andrade, Tatiana Suarez, and Yan Xiaonan. Her last victory was a split decision that was only granted to her based on control, and she can’t afford to be hit that often against a strong opponent like Lemos. I do think this is a 50-50 fight, but I’ll pick Lucindo because of her activity and constantly improving game. If she feels threatened on the feet, she can take the fight to the ground, and Lemos will likely have a hard time getting back up. (Prediction: Iasmin Lucindo)

Consensus: 2-2

Lightweight: Jalin Turner vs. Ignacio Bahamondes

Thomas Albano: Jalin Turner has lost three of his last four, though those losses have come against some great competition. Ignacio Bahamondes, however, has had a decent rise up the lightweight ranks since coming into the UFC in 2021, with just two losses in his Octagon run so far. Bahamondes has got the momentum, obviously. However, Turner has fought better competition and will have the physical advantage when it comes to his long limbs and lanky body. Bahamondes has shown some weakness in the ground game, and Turner should be smart and try to take advantage of that (especially after the bad fight IQ he displayed against Renato Moicano last year).

Turner’s three losses in his current downward trend aren’t bad considering the names, but four losses in five fights and a defeat in this fight may completely dash any chances of Turner reaching noteworthy contender status in the UFC again. I expect him to pull through with a second-round submission. (Prediction: Jalin Turner)

Ryan Jarrell: This is an interesting UFC 313 matchup considering the size of these two for the weight class. Both men are six foot three with a 75.5 inch reach. “The Tarantula” is two years older than Bahamondes, and has definitely faced the tougher competition during his tenure in the UFC. I think it’s Turner’s time to make a run. He’s a little older and probably feels the pressure to win now. Bahamondes will be around for years to come, but I am going with the American to get this win. (Prediction: Jalin Turner)

Pranav Pandey: I think this fight has all the makings of an all-out barnburner. I anticipate a striking-heavy battle, which undoubtedly favors Turner due to his towering reach advantage. However, “La Jaula” arguably possesses the sharper fight IQ — it’s just a matter of whether he can navigate the danger zones without getting tangled in “The Tarantula’s” grappling. With that in mind, Bahamondes is riding a strong wave from back-to-back finishes last year, and if he can find the openings and exploit them with precision, I can see him dishing out serious damage and putting the American through a punishing ordeal. (Prediction: Ignacio Bahamondes)

Aakrit Sharma: Turner looking really good against most of his opponents, including top-ranked fighters, thanks to his power and striking but then losing by a close margin really bugs me. Bahamondes, as good and dangerous on the feet as he is, isn’t a Dan Hooker, Renato Moicano or a Mateusz Gamrot. His submission win over Rongzhu has aged like fine wine, but I don’t see the unranked prospect moving past “The Tarantula” just yet because grappling is not his forte, and Turner is tough as nails on the feet. It’s important to remember that Turner could’ve registered a very impressive KO win over Moicano at UFC 300, and his career trajectory would’ve been completely different. I strongly believe he’s just been unlucky with the matchups and, well, is also competing in the toughest division in the promotion.

It’s unlikely for this fight to hit the ground unless one of the fighters uses it to recover from a knockdown. And because I believe Turner to be a better and more experienced striker, I pick him to win this fight. Both fighters are arguably in their physical primes, and this is easily a FOTN contender for UFC 313. (Prediction: Jalin Turner)

Consensus: 3-1 Jalin Turner

Lightweight: Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev

Thomas Albano: It’s absolutely heartbreaking that injury has cost us what could have been an amazing UFC 313 war between Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker. But the consolation prize is great as well considering the close encounter these two had in their first fight, with Gaethje coming out on top at UFC 286 in a bout that was one of 2023’s best. Gaethje’s strategy will be more of the same – use leg kicks and combinations to deliver a star-stunning, highlight performance (no play on words intended). While there are questions about him being 36 and coming off the knockout loss to Max Holloway at UFC 300, there should be plenty of questions about Fiziev as well.

Fiziev entered the first fight with Gaethje a 12-1 rising star, but he’s now lost two straight, having not fought since injuring his ACL against Mateusz Gamrot. Overall, I feel Fiziev will be able to have a strong effort in his first fight back from injury, but Gaethje’s pressure and striking will give him the taste of victory once again. (Prediction: Justin Gaethje)

Ryan Jarrell: Two years later, we are getting a rematch that all combat sports will love. The first fight was very close, with both having their moments. I don’t want to see Gaethje walk off into the sunset anytime soon, but I am starting to wonder how many more fights we will see “The Highlight” compete in. After his lopsided loss to Holloway, it was smart to take time off and not book a fight too soon. Will that rest be enough for the 36-year-old to look like himself in this rematch? I’m not sure it is, so for that reason I’m going with the younger fighter in Fiziev to battle his way to a decision victory in this one. (Prediction: Rafael Fiziev)

Pranav Pandey: Both fighters have a deep understanding of each other’s arsenals, and that level of exposure breeds a more refined yet relentless brand of controlled mayhem — especially when Gaethje is involved. Their first encounter was razor-close, and this time, the short-notice booking makes it even more exciting. Both men are returning from a loss and an extended hiatus, but it’s “Ataman” who has been out of action for a significantly longer stretch. I believe that layoff could be a crucial factor in this rematch.

On the other hand, “The Highlight” endured a brutal beating in his last outing, and whether the aftermath of that fight still lingers remains to be seen. That said, I think his relentless aggression and spunk — while both a weapon and a liability — give him the edge in this matchup. One thing’s for sure: I don’t see this fight reaching the judges’ scorecards at UFC 313. (Prediction: Justin Gaethje)

Aakrit Sharma: Two things. First, I am in the minority of people who think Fiziev won the first fight due to the first two rounds. He did get battered in the third, but the eye poke from Gaethje definitely played a role in it. Second, Fiziev is more accurate and faster on the feet, which is not a huge surprise considering his kickboxing background. He proved he has all the tools to outstrike “The
Highlight” on any day, but the veteran lightweight is as durable as they come, which helped him in the first fight, too. Gaethje, who’s become a very patient and calculated striker at this point, might want to mix things up by utilizing his wrestling in this fight, but as we know it, that’s not how he secures bonuses every time he enters the Octagon.

This fight will also reveal whether Gaethje has truly recovered from the Holloway KO. It is often said that fighters don’t remain the same after such crushing losses, but I still have faith in Gaethje’s ability to turn this into another brawl to be remembered for ages. Fiziev has had quite the time to recover from the knee injury that occurred in the Gamrot bout, and this time around, he’ll likely come to fight with the necessary adjustments against former interim UFC lightweight champ. Instead of trying to take out Gaethje early, it would make more sense for “Ataman” to spend his gas task wisely and keep up the high output of strikes and kicks across all rounds. I predict that he will perform better than UFC 286 and finally become worthy of a title shot. (Prediction: Rafael Fiziev)

Consensus: 2-2

UFC Light Heavyweight Title: Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev

Thomas Albano: After a 2024 campaign that saw him in contention for the Male Fighter of the Year in MMA across various platforms, Alex Pereira looks to continue his dominant run at 205 pounds. He has saved the UFC a number of times with cards over the course of the last year, and now a win against Magomed Ankaleav could very well put him in the running for a potential superfight against Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall, if recent comments from Dana White are to be believed.

That said, Ankalaev, despite having his own kind of power, is going to need to utilize his takedowns and wrestling to its greatest potential. The Russian needs to set the pace early and may need to weather an early storm. It’s not what some people want to hear, but he needs to start scoring takedowns from the first round on. The more he can get this fight to the ground, the better the chances he has of walking out a champion. While Ankalaev has power in his leg kicks and his hands, we’ve seen how all Pereira needs to do is land one hook to put someone’s lights out. If Ankalaev is not careful at UFC 313, all it will take is just a mere few seconds for that to happen. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)

Ryan Jarrell: I keep going back and forth about this one. On paper, I think the safe bet is Pereira to continue his dominance and retain the title. But Ankalaev is a very interesting stylistic matchup for the champion. If this fight stays on the feet, it will be Pereira all day. But if Ankalaev can mix things up and get this fight to the ground, he could pull the upset and become the new champ. With how dominant the champion has been, I just can’t pick “Poatan” to lose his title. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)

Pranav Pandey: I believe the fight will exceed the expectations of what most are anticipating. That being said, while I think Ankalaev is undeniably a stylistic menace for Pereira, I can’t help but feel a certain frustration with the initial disrespect
shown by the oddsmakers toward “Poatan”. Let’s not forget — he’s the reigning champion, and not just any champion, but an undeniable force of dominance. I think it’s crucial to remember that his striking prowess and his ability to control a fight elevate him to an entirely different level.

Ankalaev certainly possesses a well-rounded striking game, with solid reach and the added dimension of a wrestling threat that could pose some problems for Pereira. However, the reality is his takedown skills aren’t quite Khabib Nurmagomedov-esque. While Ankalaev will undoubtedly present challenges, we’ve already seen the blueprint laid out by Jan Błachowicz, who essentially
handed every 205-pounder a game plan for neutralizing the Russian’s grappling — by relentlessly attacking his legs with a series of kicks. It’s a strategy that works, and it’s one that Pereira can certainly employ to his advantage.

If there’s one thing we know for certain, it’s that Pereira is a master at imposing his will on his opponents in ways that go beyond the ordinary with his powerful shots. I firmly believe that the prevailing notion — that Ankalaev is a challenge Pereira has never encountered — misses the mark. Honestly, Pereira presents a challenge Ankalaev has never faced. When all is said and done, I have no doubt that Pereira will rise to the occasion (again). (Prediction: Alex Pereira)

Aakrit Sharma: MMA math doesn’t work all the time, but the way Jan Blachowicz was able to trouble Ankalaev with his leg kicks, I can foresee Pereira’s gameplan heading into the UFC 313 main event. Ankalaev’s plan, on the other hand, is a slight mystery as he didn’t show any willingness to grapple against a solid striker like Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 308. He might’ve been proving a point about being good enough to stand and bang with the champ, but “Poatan” is undeniably miles ahead of the rest of the pack in striking and kickboxing.

The Russian is quick, and Pereira gets hit too, but the champ’s UFC 307 defense against Khalil Rountree made us realize that he has a solid chin at light heavyweight. He’s also fighting after a relatively long break, so I expect him to be in a better state physically.
Ankalaev’s grappling advantage is being called the deciding factor for this fight. However, in a heavy division like light heavyweight, grappling exchanges lack the explosiveness, scrambles, agility, and technical intricacies seen in smaller divisions, which explains why
upsets like Jiří Procházka submitting Glover Teixeira happen.

So, even with just brute strength and Teixeira’s continued training over the last couple of years, I think Pereira will be able to avert the threat on the ground against Ankalaev. The UFC light heavyweight kingpin also has decent cardio for his age. To win, he should be the one dictating the fight’s pace as usual, and I am picking him to end up with another highlight reel this weekend at UFC 313, as his knockout power is truly special at 205 pounds. (Prediction: Alex Pereira)

Consensus: 4-0 Alex Pereira

That’ll do it for our UFC 313 staff picks! What do you think? Do your predictions look similar? Let us know in the comments section! Also, you can check out the full UFC 313 card below.

Main Card:

• Light Heavyweight Championship: Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev
• Lightweight: Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev
• Lightweight: Jalin Turner vs. Ignacio Bahamondes
• Women’s Strawweight: Amanda Lemos vs. Iasmin Lucindo
• Lightweight: King Green vs. Mauricio Ruffy

Preliminary Card:

• Heavyweight: Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev
• Flyweight: Joshua Van vs. Rei Tsuruya
• Middleweight: Brunno Ferreira vs. Armen Petrosyan
• Welterweight: Alex Morono vs. Carlos Leal

Early Preliminary Card:

• Featherweight: Mairon Santos vs. Francis Marshall
• Featherweight: Chris Gutierrez vs. John Castañeda
• Middleweight: Djorden Santos vs. Ozzy Diaz

Be sure to keep it right here on MMANews.com for all the results, highlights, and updates on UFC 313!

MMA News

Dana White has officially entered the boxing world, announcing that a deal between UFC parent company TKO Group Holdings and Turki Alalshikh is done. What does this news mean for the boxing world moving forward?

On an all-new edition of Between the Links, MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck and Jed Meshew answer your questions about White and TKO’s newest combat sports venture, discuss if it brings a different level of excitement to the sport, and other questions in play. Additionally, topics may include UFC 313, the main event championship fight between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev, the co-main event rematch between Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev, how the card stacks up as a whole, White saying he expects heavyweight champ Jon Jones back this summer, and much more.

Watch the show live at 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT in the video above.

If you missed the show live, you can still watch above, or listen to the podcast version, which can be found below and on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your pods.

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano are running it back again.

Most Valuable Promotions announced on Thursday that Taylor and Serrano will meet in a trilogy bout July 11 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The bout, which will be for the undisputed super lightweight championship, headlines an all-women’s boxing event that will stream on Netflix.

The Hollywood Reporter was first to report the news.

“This is more than just a fight — it’s a celebration of the unmatched talent of women in boxing,” Most Valuable Promotions co-founders Jake Paul and Nakisa Badarian said in a joint statement. “Amanda Serrano and Katie Taylor have already shattered barriers and inspired millions, and this trilogy fight at the iconic Madison Square Garden will be another historic step forward for women’s sports.

“This all-women’s card is not only a testament to how far the sport has come but also the beginning of an even greater push from MVP to elevate the next generation of female fighters. Unlike other incumbents in boxing, we have, are, and will always champion women as equals to men, treating them with supreme respect and we will never compromise on those values. Thank you to Netflix and MSG. We’re honored to bring this groundbreaking event to life and remain steadfast in our mission to build and invest in lasting opportunities for women in boxing. This event is the definition of W.”

Taylor was victorious in their first two meetings, but the decisions in her favor were very, very close. Their first battle was the first women’s bout to headline at Madison Square Garden in April 2022, and they ran it back this past November in the co-main event of the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson card, delivering another thrilling affair, and was watched by an average of 74 million viewers on Netflix.

Additional bouts for the card will be announced at a later date.

MMA Fighting – All Posts

Do you agree?
| BJPenn.com

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight knockout artists Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev will rematch this weekend (Sat., March 8, 2025) inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada at UFC 313.

Coming off the monumental UFC 300 knockout loss to Max Holloway, it’s easy to forget that “The Highlight” was riding high into that contest. He had earned a title shot the instant his high kick landed on Dustin Poirier, but the timing didn’t immediately work out, and staying active backfired. At 36 years of age, Gaethje is still in pursuit of that final opportunity for gold, the long-desired showdown versus Islam Makhachev.

Meanwhile, Fiziev has been on the sidelines since September 2023 after his knee exploded in the cage. He’s been ready to return for a while though, and he was quick to jump on this short-notice rematch as soon as news of Dan Hooker’s broken hand released. It’s a gamble for the Muay Thai ace, who either loses three straight or jumps into immediate title contention.

Let’s take a closer look at the betting odds and strategic keys for each athlete:

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Gaethje vs. Fiziev Betting Odds

• Justin Gaethje victory: +136
• Justin Gaethje via TKO/KO/DQ: TBD
• Justin Gaethje via submission: TBD
• Justin Gaethje via decision: TBD
• Rafael Fiziev victory: -162
• Rafael Fiziev via TKO/KO/DQ: TBD
• Rafael Fiziev via submission: TBD
• Rafael Fiziev via decision: TBD
• Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

How Gaethje Wins

Justin Gaethje is a savage. Regardless of whether he’s mauling his way forward or working more of an outside game, he commits himself fully to every exchange and never stops trying to take his opponent’s head off.

Pressuring Fiziev — an excellent kicker — is generally a good idea. Fiziev’s style of fighting is extremely taxing, and explosive kicks are even harder to fire from the back foot. Given the short-notice nature of the booking, attacking that gas tank with pressure and his usual volume is likely to pay off.

The other big key here for Gaethje is to work his jab. In the first bout, he spent ten minutes scrapping without sticking the jab. As soon as he started firing his jab, he took over completely and bloodied up Fiziev! Surely fatigue and wear played a factor as well, but throughout his career, Gaethje’s jab has been an underutilized weapon that is nasty when it does show up.

Why wait?

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

How Fiziev Wins

Fiziev has a long background in Muay Thai and has even coached striking at Tiger Muay Thai. He has very fast, powerful kicks and explosive punching combinations. He tends to control range really well, managing the distance to the point that a slight pull allows him to fire back.

Hopefully, Fiziev has been paying attention to Justin Gaethje’s previous defeats, because the book is definitely written on what works against “The Highlight.” That’s not to say it’s easy, but we know Gaethje can struggle in the face of active feints, an active jab, and effective body work.

In the first fight, Fiziev kicked the mid-section rather well, and he should go back to that well here. However, he could stand to do more body punching too. Jabbing up-and-down the body is a good option, but using the threat of his kicks to set up the left hook to the liver would be classic Muay Thai as well.

Gaethje relies extensively on his high guard. If his mid-section is pummeled, that guard will lower and his punches will be less thudding, allowing Fiziev to find his own hooks and overhands.

Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images

Gaethje vs. Fiziev Prediction

I don’t believe either man has changed dramatically since the first fight. It’s possible, of course, that the Max Holloway KO or ACL injury have ruined Gaethje or Fiziev athletically. We haven’t seen them fight since then, however, so there’s really no way to know.

Assuming both of them are still close to their 2023 standard … why wouldn’t their bout play out similarly? Gaethje finished strong with momentum in his corner back then, having made the better adjustments to take over late in the fight. He should be able to continue that flow, and the short-notice aspect of the match up only favors him as well.

Fiziev is definitely capable of a big knockout, but I don’t see a reason on paper why he should fare better under worse circumstances.

Prediction: Gaethje via decision

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

Israel Adesanya believes Alex Pereira gets it done this weekend.

On Saturday, Pereira puts his light heavyweight title on the line when he takes on Magomed Ankalaev in the main event of UFC 313. Pereira has been perfect since moving up to 205 pounds in the UFC, winning five in a row, including the straight title defenses in 2024.

However, Pereira now arguably faces his toughest test to date in Ankalaev, a fighter many touted as a future champion of this division and some even suggested the UFC was protecting Pereira from. All that is out the window now though and Adesanya believes “Poatan” has a number of advantages heading into this matchup.

“Leg kicks. Let’s just address the f*cking elephant in the room,” Adesanya said on his YouTube channel. “That’s going to be a factor in this fight. He might have to become a wrestler in this fight. He might have to go into his bag for this one because he can’t just — I think ego is a part of it.

“Fight talk. He’s saying what he has to say to get the fight. ‘I’ll stand up with him.’ Yeah, it will start off standing but I don’t think it’s going to keep standing. He’s going to clinch. He’s definitely going to try and take him down. I think Ankalaev is going to try and take him down. Can he keep him down? Alex Pereira is a black belt in jiu-jitsu now. He’s exponentially getting better. I haven’t really seen him use it much in a fight because he hasn’t had to, but I’ve seen him roll with some people recently and it was a lot different from what I remember. It seems like he flows better on the ground.”

Of course, Adesanya knows what he’s talking about; he fought Pereira four times across kickboxing and MMA, finally defeating “Poatan” in their second MMA fight at UFC 287. And having spent so much time exchanging blows with Pereira, Adesanya believes he continues rolling through the light heavyweight division on Saturday.

“[Ankalaev] is going to shoot because he’s going to get tagged on the legs, and again, he could get clocked in the face,” Adesanya said. “If you say Magomed has good straight shots, that’s something Ale has to watch out for, and he switches a lot. Southpaw will be the best stance for Magomed. …

“Maybe I’m banking too much on the leg kicks. I have experience with it and I know how effective it is. Regardless, I’m going to go with Pereira because of momentum. He’s just on a tear right now. … When you have that kind of frame and power, you trust in your skillset so much.”

That being said, Adesanya isn’t giving Ankalaev no chance to win, he just thinks it’s going to be hard given the run of form Pereira is on right now.

“Ankalaev, speed,” Adesanya said. “But he’ll have to catch Alex when he makes a mistake. So counters. If he catches him on a counter it could be a dangerous night, but I just think this is going to go leg kicks, leg kicks, leg kicks, left hook. Alex Pereira by KO. … Four or five. He’s going to knock him out in the fourth or fifth round.”

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Rundown. Upcoming UFC featherweight title challenger Diego Lopes shares his thoughts on Movsar Evloev, Patricio Pitbull, and Aljamain Sterling.

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VIDEO STEW

UFC 313 media day.

MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin talks to Curtis Blaydes ahead of his fight at UFC 313.

UFC 313 Embedded, episode 3.

Alex Pereira fight week.

FLAVOR IN YOUR EAR

No Bets Barred. MMA Fighting’s Jed Meshew gives his best bets for what is expected to be a hotly contested UFC 313 main event, plus more picks for Saturday’s pay-per-view.

SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

This goes as well as you would expect.

Only Tony.

If you’re a fighter or know a fighter involved, please tell them to do this!

Fight camp for Kelvin Gastelum.

Yoel Romero is back.

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Randy Brown (19-6) vs. Nicolas Dalby (23-5-1, 2 NC); UFC Kansas City, Apr. 26.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I’m increasingly excited about the main event this weekend. This is the two best light heavyweights in the world locking horns in a fascinating matchup of styles. I know people really want Pereira to skip right to Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall, but I always wanted this fight and I think it’s going to be a really fun one. Almost there.

EXIT POLL

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts

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MMA: Mixed Martial Arts