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Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev Preview & Picks – Pereira To Retain At UFC 313
- Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev picks for Saturday, March 8
- UFC 313 is taking place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada
- Preview, predictions, stats & form
Alex Pereira (Getty Images)
- Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev Preview & Picks
- Alex Pereira Form
- Magomed Ankalaev Form
Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev Preview & Picks
Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev Preview & Picks
Alex Pereira is tipped to retain the UFC light-heavyweight title by knockout.
Pereira is an elite striker that can light up Magomed Ankalaev with kicks, just like Jan Blachowicz did.
And once he has made the challenger a sitting duck, ‘Poatan’ can unleash his fight-finishing power.
- Alex Pereira is on a 5-fight win streak
- Alex Pereira has won all 4 of his light-heavyweight title fights via knockout
- 10 of Alex Pereira’s 12 career victories have come by knockout
- Alex Pereira lands 5.46 strikes per minute with 63% accuracy
Alex Pereira Form
Alex Pereira is a former UFC middleweight champion and the reigning and defending light-heavyweight champion with a career record of 12-2 (10 KOs).
Pereira crossed over to MMA after a highly successful kickboxing career, and debuted in the UFC after only four fights.
He made an immediate impact with a second-round knockout of Andreas Michailidis, and backed that up with a rare points win over Bruno Silva.
The 37-year-old Brazilian then knocked out Sean Strickland in 156 seconds to earn a shot at the UFC middleweight title, which was held by former kickboxing rival Israel Adesanya.
Pereira ended the reign of ‘The Last Stylebender’ with a sensational fifth-round knockout, only to lose it in the rematch when he was stopped by strikes in the second round.
‘Poatan’ moved up to light-heavyweight following the loss and enjoyed a successful debut as he beat Jan Blachowicz by split decision.
He then claimed the vacant 205lb crown by knocking out former champion Jiri Prochazka in the second round.
The Brazilian has made three successful defences of the belt, starting with a first-round demolition of Jamahal Hill.
Pereira then knocked out Prochazka in the second round in their rematch, before taking out Khalil Rountree Jr in the fourth last October.
Magomed Ankalaev Form
Magomed Ankalaev is the #1 ranked contender in the light-heavyweight division with a professional record of 19-1 (10 KOs) with 1 draw and 1 No Contest.
Ankalaev debuted in the UFC back in March 2018 and suffered a stunning last-second submission loss to Paul Craig.
He rebounded in emphatic fashion though, knockout out Marcin Prachnio in the first round, and that proved to be the start of a nine-fight win streak.
The 32-year-old Russian then beat Klidson Abreu by decision, before following up a third-round knockout of Dalcha Lungiambula with back-to-back first-round stoppages of Ion Cutelaba.
From there Ankalaev beat Nikita Krylov, Volkan Oezdemir and Thiago Santos by unanimous decision, before earning a UFC light-heavyweight title shot with a second-round knockout of Anthony Smith.
He came up short on the night, going to a draw with Jan Blachowicz, and his next fight was ruled a No Contest after an accidental strike left Johnny Walker unable to continue.
Ankalaev did get back on track last year though, starting with a second-round knockout of Walker in the rematch.
The Russian then backed that up last October as he beat Aleksandar Rakic via unanimous decision.
Verdict
Alex Pereira has been on a tear at light-heavyweight and we expect it to continue.
Magomed Ankalaev is susceptible to kicks, and that spells trouble against a skilled and violent striker like Pereira.
Magomed Ankalaev is susceptible to kicks, and that spells trouble against a skilled and violent striker like Pereira.
Alex Pereira
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