LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Magomed Ankalaev dethroned Alex Pereira to become the UFC light heavyweight champion after securing a unanimous decision victory at UFC 313 on Saturday, handing Pereira his first loss in the weight class.
Russia’s Ankalaev, unbeaten since March 2018, outwitted former kickboxing champion Pereira on the feet with forward pressure and tight knees to the body, and left the Brazilian exhausted after pinning him to the fence and forcing him to grapple.
“I can’t even put it into words. It has been such a long wait. Here’s my dream and it’s on my waist,” Ankalaev said after finally winning the championship belt, having fought Jan Blachowicz to a split draw in his first UFC title bout in December 2022.
Pereira, who won his last four fights by knockout, repeatedly kicked Ankalaev’s lead leg early on in the fight. But Ankalaev fought back in the second round, landing a left hand and leaving Pereira on shaky legs just seconds before the bell.
Ankalaev kept up the pressure in the next round, landing knees from close range as Pereira fought off his takedown attempts. The superior grappling of Ankalaev helped him pin Pereira to the fence and drain his energy in the fourth round.