UFC 313 LIVE: Alex Pereira drops title to Magomed Ankalaev after five rounds – results and reaction
Follow the fallout after Alex Pereira lost his light-heavyweight title via decision
Magomed Ankalaev took the UFC light-heavyweight title from Alex Pereira on Saturday, ending the fan favourite’s reign with a unanimous-decision win.
Ankalaev won 49-46, 48-47, 48-47 on the judges’ scorecards, as the Russian controlled Pereira in the grappling exchanges and even outstruck the kickboxing icon at UFC 313.
Ankalaev, 32, actually failed with all 12 of his takedowns, which will shock those familiar with the general wrestling abilities of Dagestani fighters. However, he held Pereira against the fence for spells of the main-event bout, while proving sharper than the Brazilian in the striking exchanges.
Pereira, an enigmatic knockout artist, just could not get going at the T-Mobile Arena, with Indy Sport scoring the fight comfortably in Ankalaev’s favour. Ankalev’s victory marked the end of an impressive reign for Pereira, 37, who won the belt in late 2023 and recorded three successful title defences in 2024 – all by TKO.
Re-live the UFC 313 main card and prelims live, below.
UFC 313 LIVE: Main card begins!
The main card is finally upon us! Here’s how it looks, working backwards from the main event:
Alex Pereira (C) vs Magomed Ankalaev (light-heavyweight title)
Justin Gaethje vs Rafael Fiziev 2 (lightweight)
Jalin Turner vs Ignacio Bahamondes (lightweight)
Amanda Lemos vs Iasmin Lucindo (women’s strawweight)
King Green vs Mauricio Ruffy (lightweight)
UFC 313 LIVE: Brunno Ferreira vs Armen Petrosyan
Round two
Ferreira has landed the more eye-catching shot so far in this round. Petrosyan is having to work hard to stay defensively sound.
Ferreira with a failed double-leg, after telegraphing it too much, but he lands the next one! Petrosyan scoots free and stands at once, though.
Interesting moment now: Ferreira with a clubbing left hook to the waist, but Petrosyan says it was low, and we have another timeout.
Back under way. Hard body kicks from both men, then a big drive double-leg by Ferreira! He wraps up Petrosyan’s legs as they land by the fence.
Ferreira gets to the back but starts to lose position... but he shows slick reactions during a transition, and he catches an armbar! There’s the tap!!
Brunno Ferreira def. Armen Petrosyan via second-round submission (armbar, 4:27)
UFC 313 LIVE: Brunno Ferreira vs Armen Petrosyan
Round one
Petrosyan stalks Ferreira around the ring. The Brazilian switches stances back and forth; Petrosyan does the same. Their frames are so different: Petrosyan is the taller, slimmer man, while Ferreira is shorter and bulkier.
Brilliant switch left hand from Ferreira! Petrosyan eats it well, but his eyes definitely widened!
Brief pause now, after a low blow from Petrosyan. Back under way. Annnnnd... already we have another pause for a low blow by Petrosyan! Wow.
Petrosyan is docked a point! Mark Smith, the referee, not messing about after some fouls (eye pokes) proved decisive in the last two UFC main events.
Ferreira lands a takedown, intercepting a knee strike, but he can’t keep down Petrosyan. Stabbing front kick by Ferreira, who is bleeding slightly from the nose after a cross by Petrosyan.
Leaping knee lands to the body of Ferreira. His striking has sharpened throughout the round.
UFC 313 LIVE: Brunno Ferreira vs Armen Petrosyan
Can Brazilian fighters go 3-0 so far tonight?
Brunno Ferreira will try to preserve his nation’s record on the UFC 313 prelims, as he fights Armen Petrosyan at 185lb.
Ferreira is 12-2 and has sealed all of his wins via stoppage.
Petrosyan aims to stop a two-fight skid here, having been on the end of that stunning KO by Shara Magomedov in October – the infamous double spinning back fist.
UFC 313 LIVE: Alex Morono vs Carlos Leal
Round one
Both men stand orthodox. Some winging punches from Morono already.
Leal with a sharp elbow in the clinch. Morono lands a stabbing front kick to the body, but he misses with a spinning back fist.
Leal is fighting on the front foot. He gets through with a cross then a switch left hand.
More straight punches land for Leal, then a clean one-two. Decent head movement by him, before he lands a flurry to the head – then a knee to the body and elbow upstairs!
Morono is landing some counters, but he’s largely eating shots from Leal against the fence! Morono sags to the canvas and tries to grapple, but Leal refuses to engage, beckoning Morono back to his feet.
More violence from Leal, with Morono stood against the fence! How is Morono absorbing this damage?? Eventually referee Keith Peterson steps in! Right call!
Carlos Leal def. Alex Morono via first-round TKO (punches, 4:16)
UFC 313 LIVE: Alex Morono vs Carlos Leal
We head to the welterweight division now, where Alex Morono takes on Carlos Leal.
It’s another American vs Brazilian match-up! US fighter Morono is 34; Leal is 30.
Each man is aiming to bounce back from a loss here – Morono is on a two-fight losing streak, in fact.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments