by The UFC 313 brings the action to Las Vegas on Saturday with a long -awaited match between the two best fighters in the light heavyweight division. Since he joined the UFC in November 2021, Alex Pereira has become one of the most magnetic figures in MMA. His days with the average weight feel a decade ago, but it was because of the speed with which he won the title at 205 pounds, then recorded three consecutive defends in 2024.
For Pereira to claim a fourth defense in less than a full year, he must undoubtedly overcome his most formidable opponent to date: the main competitor almost flawless, Magomed Ankalaev. If things happened a little differently three years ago when Ankalaev fought for the gold vacant against Jan Blachowicz, he would be champion and this match could have been much earlier. But the well -balanced dagestani has returned to its winning ways after this controversial draw and now obtains its second gold crack.
In the co-printing event, one of the most exciting fighters of all time is back. Justin Gaethje unfortunately lost his initial opponent, Dan Hooker, due to a broken hand, but the all-game Rafael Fiziev was waiting in the wings and entered this revenge match of a fight he lost two years ago.
Overall, the UFC 313 is not a card that will exhaust your hair, but it has fights throughout attention, with high issues and future implications. The first two, however, are what everyone should surround. Let’s break down all of this.
The ratings of Paris graceful of Betmgm.
205 pounds: (c) Alex Pereira (-115) against Ankalaev Magomed (-105)
The main event of the UFC 313 brings a rare atmosphere “moment of truth” for each fighter.
Immediately after committing to MMA in 2020, Pereira became one of the best sports attackers thanks to his status as former champion of two Glory Kickboxing division. Pereira’s technique and configurations are unequaled, accompanied by an impossible left hook. The word “nuclear” does not do justice to the power of Pereira. Because of this, his opponents are often hypnotized to become men from primary caves. Nobody – No matter how talented they are as attackers – should try to beat Pereira on their feet, but all of his 205 pound adversaries (less Jan Blachowicz) tried it, and all failed.
As much as the ego is a precious tool in MMA, it can also be your worst enemy, because the challengers like Jamahal Hill, Jiri Nextzka (X2) and Khalil Routree have all discovered.
But Ankalaev presents an interesting case. He is not based on his struggle as frequently or heavily as his colleagues Dagasstani, but he is undoubtedly one of the best light heavyweights in this category. Ankalaev has become a well -balanced global fighter, only leaning on his best asset as a backup plan. It was exposed in his first title opportunity against Blachowicz. After heavy kicks chewed her legs early, Ankalaev used withdrawals for the same score. In the end, this led him to a draw rather than what should have been a victory.
The fact is that Ankalaev can do everything. Despite this, he continues to tease the possibility that he can hunt a blow against Pereira. He focuses only on strike in his fights since Blachowicz, which suggests that he could tell the truth. Again, he did everything he could to convince the UFC to give him another blow.
It is a desperate moment for Ankalaev, who, if he loses, may not obtain another crack during a championship for years, regardless of the number of victories he joins together.
He is not a brawler. He will seek to make his way inside and back up Pereira to avoid these devastating kicks. Each strike launched by the Dagdestani will be to set up its struggle in it, leading it to a clinical victory at five laps. Pereira needs at least think to be struggled. Ankalaev will be too smart not to mix it.
If Ankalaev do Ignore attempts to fight? Well, then now, may have been right to suggest that Pereira uses a certain type of black magic from another world on these guys.
Pick: Ankalaev
155 pounds: Justin Gaethje (+135) against Rafael Fiziev (-160)
Where did the faith in Gaethje go?
The general feeling at the moment seems to be that the defeat with direct elimination against Max Holloway has changed “the highest point” forever. But a similar notion was launched after almost all the war that Gaethje has ever been, which is almost all the fights, so I am not sold on it until I see it.
I would be more inclined to like the chances of Fiziev if he had had a full training camp before this fight. He made a great effort during their first meeting at the UFC 286 in 2023, and admitted to having found himself at the time when the fight was taking place. Fiziev has not fought since the end of this year and is now found in its first fight on a surgically repaired LCA.
The speed of Fiziev is one of his best attributes and he seems to enlarge all those he faces. Even Gaethje fought with her before lowering Fiziev’s timing in the first fight. According to the standard of cars, a typical Gaethje fight, this first meeting was very controlled. It takes two in Tango, of course, but it is unjustified neglected here after the perfect night of Holloway. Even in this fight, Gaethje found his gunshots, dropping Holloway at some point. Man will catch his opponents, and unless they are monsters like Holloway, surviving – and winning – is rare.
In the end, the circumstances and the short notice are what injured the most in Fiziev in this revenge match.
Pick: Gaethje
155 pounds: Jalin Turner (+110) against Ignacio Bahomondes (-135)
Jalin Turner lost more than Renato Moicano won during his last outing.
Let’s talk a little more egos. Turner had Moicano who died at the rights at the UFC 300, marking a big blow in the first round. Unfortunately, Turner thought that he had won the walking finish, leaving Micano to take down. Moricano joined and finished the “Tarentule” with ground strikes in the next round.
It was a wild show to see Turner pounding as it was, although it is something that can probably be attributed more to its end of disappointment in the previous framework. Turner was not historically unable to make this next jump up to the country of the light elite, but it was not without strong efforts, because he lost decisions divided against Hooker and Mateusz Gamrot before demolishing King Green in Texas.
Ignacio Bahomondes showed a serious shine with UFC from Listed finishes. He does not yet do so against competition similar to Turner, who has finished all those he beat. Turner is as physically imposing as a light weight could hope for it, and his style should cancel the luster of Bahomondes, perhaps even suffocate it if the fight is found on the carpet.
Turner is a step for Bahomondes. And for the moment, it will be too big for the 27 -year prospect.
Pick: Turner
115 pounds: Amanda Lemos (+115) against Iasmin Lucindo (-140)
We will see Iasmin Lucindo difficult for the title of straw weight in the very close future if it can pass Amanda Lemos – perhaps even this year.
Still at just 23 years old, Lucindo has become a competitor in good faith at 115 pounds and has much more experience than she should for her age. The sequence of four Brazilian victories has recently been carried out with its most important victory to date – a sign of decision shared against the perennial candidacy Marina Rodriguez. This fight was a great decisive test to see exactly where Lucindo is at this early stage. To tell the truth, she is not quite ready – and she lost this fight on my cards.
This does not mean that it was not competitive. Lucindo is an exciting and rapid attacker, and she has talented years beyond her experience. It’s just that Lemos is by far the most dangerous enemy she has still confronted with the UFC.
What Lemos lacks in the technique, it compensates with the power and the finishing capacity on the feet. Attack the Lemos and she withdraws with heavy hook counters to shake and disturb. Lucindo gradually improves his game on the ground, but ultimately Lemos was only beaten by the strongest clipples in the division, while beating decorated workers like Mackenzie Dern.
Lucindo will be there for years to come as an elite straw weight. It is just to call him one of the best 15 in the division right now, but a match like Lemos is simply too difficult at this point.
Pick: Lemos
155 pounds: King Green (+350) against Mauricio Ruffy (-475)
Combatants cannot be stopped. That’s really all that must be said.
King Green is a tailor -made confrontation to give Mauricio Ruffy the discharge finish that we expected that he had against James Llontop during his last appearance at the UFC 309. Instead, Lontop remained more on the reserved side and posted his durability while Ruffy Teed Teed for 15 minutes.
Green is always at the party and he likes to exchange hands with his high boxers. When power is not really a concern that comes back, Green can prosper. However, Ruffy inflicts damage with various attacks, and some of his assaults of rotation have just missed in the Lontop fight. Green is an altered veteran, but this fight is a case of two men who go to opposite directions. Ruffy wins without too much problem as long as he is not taken to be sloppy.
Pick: Ruffy
Preliminary notes
The poor Curtis Blaydes and Chris Gutierez go from the fight against nightline headliners to a lower preliminary status after losses. They each had unique paths towards their place of presentation, but most often deliver with out-of-competition performance, especially in places like these.
Josh van vs rei tsuruya is the only fight to watch for all the preliminaries. Meanwhile, the pariah of the PFL Carlos Leal wins him the super favorite of the card, largely on the veteran Alex Morono. I choose Leal, but these chances are surprising.
The UFC 313 has aperitifs usable before the main card, but nothing is too “to see”.
Quick choice:
-
Curtis Blaydes (-325) def. Ricevan Kuniev (+260)
-
Josh van (-200) def. Rei Tsuruya (+165)
-
Brunno Ferreira (+115) def. Armen Petrosyan (-140)
-
Carlos Leal (-800) def. Alex Morono (+550)
-
Francis Marshall (+240) def. Mairon Santos (-300)
-
Chris Gutierrez (-115) def. John Castaneda (-105)
-
Djorden Ribeiro Dos Santos (-210) def. Osman Diaz (+170)
