UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira will face his toughest title defense yet against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313.
Pereira has become a star in the MMA world, with his devastating power overwhelming most opponents. His most recent title defense came at UFC 307, where he knocked out Khalil Rountree in the fourth round.
This fight has been long awaited, and Ankalaev has well earned his opportunity. Undefeated since 2018, the Russian fighter has been patiently awaiting his title shot, with his last win coming at UFC 308 over Aleksandar Rakic.
Ankalaev, widely considered the most versatile fighter in the division, will likely rely on his wrestling, where he has a clear advantage over Pereira.
However, since each fight starts on the feet, Ankalaev will first have to withstand Pereira's powerful and aggressive kicks, which can throw him off his rhythm.
In his previous title fight, Ankalaev faced kicks from former champion Jan Blachowicz at UFC 282, which ended in a draw.
If Ankalaev can survive Pereira's initial punches and drop the champion, we could have a new champion. Otherwise, if Pereira can keep the fight on his feet, he'll remain the favorite.
The co-main event of UFC 313 will feature one of the most anticipated showdowns of 2023 as Justin Gaethje reunites with Rafael Fiziev, 18 months after their first encounter.
Gaethje won their first fight via majority decision at UFC 286 in London, but both fighters have struggled since then.
Gaethje went on to win the BMF belt by knocking out Dustin Poirier with a head kick, before suffering a brutal knockout loss in the final minutes of the fight to Max Holloway at UFC 300.
Fiziev has not fought since he suffered a serious injury in a fight with Mateusz Gamrot in September 2023. Gaethje was originally scheduled to face Dan Hooker, but the New Zealander's injury forced a rematch.
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The key question heading into Saturday's fight is whether the fighters are at the top of their game. Gaethje has shown resilience in tough fights, including their first meeting, and was knocked out by Holloway.
For Fiziev, coming back from an 18-month injury layoff, especially against the division's toughest opponent, presents significant challenges. Expect big kicks from both fighters, making this
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
