Alex Pereira reveals why he changed his mind to accept early return and fight Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313
Alex Pereira has spoken out for the first time since the UFC announced his next fight. The promotion revealed during UFC 311 – their first pay-per-view event of 2025 – that Pereira will take on Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 on March 8. Pereira knocked out Rountree Jr in his last UFC boutGetty Ankalaev is one of the UFC’s most dangerous fightersGetty The 37-year-old Brazilian MMA star will put his UFC light-heavyweight title on the line for the fourth time after three successful defences in 2024. ‘Poatan’ won light-heavyweight gold for the first time by knocking out Jiri Prochazka in November 2023 before defending it against Jamahal Hill, Prochazka again, and Khalil Rountree Jr most recently at UFC 307 last October. After his bloody affair with Rountree Jr, Pereira made no indication that he was aiming for a return in the first quarter of 2025. However, he has since explained why his mindset shifted to accept a bout with Ankalaev and make an early return to the UFC in 2025. “I did say that I wanted to take a break, but I started training again,” he said in an interview with ESPN MMA. “I started feeling good, I started seeing my evolution so I called my managers right away and said, ‘I want to fight in March. I want to fight Ankalaev.’ “I know he keeps saying I’m just an employee of the UFC and that I fight whenever they want, but I asked for him. “I told them when I want to fight.” Pereira is the most popular fighter in Dana White’s promotion, and arguably had his most successful year in MMA last year. He was named the UFC’s top best-selling fighter in 2024, beating the likes of Conor McGregor, Jon Jones and Max Holloway to the feat. GettyPereira won two UFC belts faster than anyone in company history[/caption] The Brazilian will be making the fourth defence of his title against AnkalaevGetty Ankalaev has gone undefeated in 13 bouts since suffering a defeat on his UFC debut seven years ago, and has been on the cusp of earning a title shot against Pereira for the last year. He is the No. 1 ranked contender in the light-heavyweight division and earned his spot after extending his unbeaten streak this past October with a unanimous decision victory over Aleksandar Rakic. Pereira has been accused of avoiding the Dagestani fighter, having admitted to intentionally making it difficult for him to secure a title bout. He pointed to the ‘lies’ that Ankalaev had spread about him online as the main reason for frustrating the No.1-ranked light heavyweight contender at the beginning of December last year. But evidently Pereira’s intentions have clearly changed, as he is set to square off with Ankalaev at UFC 313. A win at UFC 313 would move Pereira ahead of UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier to second all-time in title fight victories at 205 pounds with five. Justin Gaethje will face Dan Hooker in a five-round co-main event at UFC 313Getty His bout with Hooker has Fight of the Year written all over itGetty Also at UFC 313, Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker will collide in a crucial bout at lightweight. Gaethje is a former interim champion at 155 pounds and is looking to bounce back from his knockout defeat to Max Holloway at UFC 300 in April – one of the most iconic UFC knockouts in 2024. ‘The Highlight’ would solidify his place as one of the top contenders in the lightweight division to set up a title fight with champion Islam Makhachev should he get past Hooker. Hooker is on a three-fight win streak in the UFC and put on a Fight of the Night performance in his last bout against Mateusz Gamrot in August last year. The 34-year-old, who was rumoured to fight McGregor this year, has already fought Makhachev, losing to a first-round submission, but would climb closer to a rematch with the Russian if he beats Gaethje. Both Pereira vs Ankalaev and Gaethje vs Hooker are dream fights for combat sports fans around the world, with two potential Fight of the Year’s written all over them.
Alex Pereira has spoken out for the first time since the UFC announced his next fight.
The promotion revealed during UFC 311 – their first pay-per-view event of 2025 – that Pereira will take on Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 on March 8.
The 37-year-old Brazilian MMA star will put his UFC light-heavyweight title on the line for the fourth time after three successful defences in 2024.
‘Poatan’ won light-heavyweight gold for the first time by knocking out Jiri Prochazka in November 2023 before defending it against Jamahal Hill, Prochazka again, and Khalil Rountree Jr most recently at UFC 307 last October.
After his bloody affair with Rountree Jr, Pereira made no indication that he was aiming for a return in the first quarter of 2025.
However, he has since explained why his mindset shifted to accept a bout with Ankalaev and make an early return to the UFC in 2025.
“I did say that I wanted to take a break, but I started training again,” he said in an interview with ESPN MMA.
“I started feeling good, I started seeing my evolution so I called my managers right away and said, ‘I want to fight in March. I want to fight Ankalaev.’
“I know he keeps saying I’m just an employee of the UFC and that I fight whenever they want, but I asked for him.
“I told them when I want to fight.”
Pereira is the most popular fighter in Dana White’s promotion, and arguably had his most successful year in MMA last year.
He was named the UFC’s top best-selling fighter in 2024, beating the likes of Conor McGregor, Jon Jones and Max Holloway to the feat.
Ankalaev has gone undefeated in 13 bouts since suffering a defeat on his UFC debut seven years ago, and has been on the cusp of earning a title shot against Pereira for the last year.
He is the No. 1 ranked contender in the light-heavyweight division and earned his spot after extending his unbeaten streak this past October with a unanimous decision victory over Aleksandar Rakic.
Pereira has been accused of avoiding the Dagestani fighter, having admitted to intentionally making it difficult for him to secure a title bout.
He pointed to the ‘lies’ that Ankalaev had spread about him online as the main reason for frustrating the No.1-ranked light heavyweight contender at the beginning of December last year.
But evidently Pereira’s intentions have clearly changed, as he is set to square off with Ankalaev at UFC 313.
A win at UFC 313 would move Pereira ahead of UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier to second all-time in title fight victories at 205 pounds with five.
Also at UFC 313, Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker will collide in a crucial bout at lightweight.
Gaethje is a former interim champion at 155 pounds and is looking to bounce back from his knockout defeat to Max Holloway at UFC 300 in April – one of the most iconic UFC knockouts in 2024.
‘The Highlight’ would solidify his place as one of the top contenders in the lightweight division to set up a title fight with champion Islam Makhachev should he get past Hooker.
Hooker is on a three-fight win streak in the UFC and put on a Fight of the Night performance in his last bout against Mateusz Gamrot in August last year.
The 34-year-old, who was rumoured to fight McGregor this year, has already fought Makhachev, losing to a first-round submission, but would climb closer to a rematch with the Russian if he beats Gaethje.
Both Pereira vs Ankalaev and Gaethje vs Hooker are dream fights for combat sports fans around the world, with two potential Fight of the Year’s written all over them.
