Alex Pereira’s reign of terror over the light heavyweight division came to an end Saturday when he lost the belt to Magomed Ankalaev in the UFC 313 headliner.
Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) lived up to the expectations of many that he would be the toughest test for Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) with a unanimous decision victory to capture gold in the main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Check below for the top X (formerly Twitter) reactions to Ankalaev’s title win over Pereira at UFC 313.
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They’re here! Our #UFC313 main event’s clocking in! ⏰
🏆 Pereira vs Ankalaev | LIVE on PPV pic.twitter.com/6yS6S2Yfr5
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) March 9, 2025
Chama 🗿@AlexPereiraUFC x @Finkd | #UFC313 pic.twitter.com/zTrqqCWQ95
— UFC (@ufc) March 9, 2025
Locked in 🔒@AlexPereiraUFC & @AnkalaevM are getting set to scrap in their title fight! 🏆
[ #UFC313 LIVE NOW on @ESPNPlus PPV ] pic.twitter.com/9fTKkC2RxN
— UFC (@ufc) March 9, 2025
Will Alex Pereira get past Magomed Ankalaev to retain his UFC light heavyweight title? Give us your last-minute pick. 👇
Full coverage: https://t.co/Tqd9wzwwIh pic.twitter.com/fAwpnSjlt5
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) March 9, 2025
Alex Pereira is here 🏹 #UFC313 pic.twitter.com/BNvfhu8KNG
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) March 9, 2025
Bruce Buffer gives Alex Pereira “The One, The Only” intro. Only Jon Jones and Conor McGregor have got that. #UFC313
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) March 9, 2025
These are some big boys throwing leather . @ufc
— Brian Ortega (@BrianTcity) March 9, 2025
10-9 Pereira after R1
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) March 9, 2025
Round 1 Pereira. Close round. Ankalaev getting close to landing with his hands #UFC313
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) March 9, 2025
Ank is limping already
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) March 9, 2025
Poatan using his jabs less, which is something I predicted given Ankalaev’s straight shout awareness and counters. In turn, Poatan kicking much more given Anik’s traditional kick defense and lack of kick counters
— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) March 9, 2025
A strong end to Round 2 for the challenger 👀@AnkalaevM | #UFC313 pic.twitter.com/6A45hoJ259
— UFC (@ufc) March 9, 2025
Big round for Ankalaev
19-19
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) March 9, 2025
🤯🤯🤯 Saved by the bell!!!#UFC313
— Tracy Cortez’s ERA (@TracyCortezmma) March 9, 2025
Ankalaev just DOMINATED that second round. We might be hearing #ANDNEW tonight people… #UFC313
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) March 9, 2025
Is it me or the fact that he’s southpaw is making it hard for Alex to land that left hook . @ufc
— Brian Ortega (@BrianTcity) March 9, 2025
Ankalaev obscuring Pereia’s jab is annoying the hell out of him
— Josie Aldo (@JosieAldoMMA) March 9, 2025
Takedown defense of Pereira looks fabulous. Ankalaev is keeping Pereira on the back foot like we have not seen. #ufc313
— Dominick Cruz (@DominickCruz) March 9, 2025
2-1 Ankalaev. The Russian is mixing it so well. Making Pereria extremely hesitant. #UFC313
— Korean John (@KoreanJohn_) March 9, 2025
Ankalaev fighting like he’s on a mission Alex fighting patiently but Ank not leaving any openings. Disciplined fight very high level I have it 2-1 Ank
— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) March 9, 2025
Ankalaev putting pressure!#UFC313
— Tracy Cortez’s ERA (@TracyCortezmma) March 9, 2025
Onto the championship rounds!
Who do you have winning so far? #UFC313 pic.twitter.com/MyMfI1Z91I
— UFC (@ufc) March 9, 2025
Ankalaev should do the exact same thing in round 5 – Poatan is exhausted #UFC313
— Fight Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) March 9, 2025
Feel confidently that it’s 3-1 Ankalaev. Pereira needs to go and needs a FINISH! #UFC313live
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) March 9, 2025
I got Ank up 3-1 Alex needing a finish. Ank is fighting very smart and it’s not looking good at all for Alex here
— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) March 9, 2025
I think 3-1 Ankalaev. Could be 2-2. Round 3 was very close. #UFC313
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) March 9, 2025
It’s about to be #AndNew.
Magomed Ankalev completely stymied Alex Pereira tonight.
— Andreas Hale (@AndreasHale) March 9, 2025
I got it 4-1 Ankalaev but these judges….
— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) March 9, 2025
Round 3 will decide this fight and who is the champion at light heavyweight
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) March 9, 2025
Dana not happy. Ank got it
— Al Iaquinta🗽 (@ALIAQUINTA) March 9, 2025
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IT’S ANKALAEV TIME ⏰🏆
Magomed Ankalaev defeats Alex Pereira by Unanimous Decision to BECOME the new light heavyweight champion of the world!
[ B2YB: @WOLFpaktrust ] pic.twitter.com/Q9qA0KrAJ2
— UFC (@ufc) March 9, 2025
#UFC313 results: Magomed Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM) def. Alex Pereira via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47) – to win light heavyweight title
Full coverage: https://t.co/Tqd9wzwwIh pic.twitter.com/3QUFd0GN2d
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) March 9, 2025
#UFC313 Official Scorecard: Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM)
Complete Scorecards ➡️ https://t.co/YxEAdzzQLh pic.twitter.com/k2eDNTQOLd
— UFC News (@UFCNews) March 9, 2025
The moment he’s been waiting for! 👏@AnkalaevM is the NEW Light Heavyweight Champion! #UFC313 pic.twitter.com/l4rtlMY8ba
— UFC (@ufc) March 9, 2025
Congratulations Brother @AnkalaevM you made a history 👏 it was amazing performance against very tough opponent.
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) March 9, 2025
LONGEST ACTIVE @UFC UNBEATEN STREAKS
20 – Jon Jones
15 – Islam Makhachev
14 – Magomed Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM) 👊
12 – Merab Dvalishvili
11 – Belal MuhammadFinal #UFC313 Main Card Results ➡️ https://t.co/DA5sqMHpv4
— UFC News (@UFCNews) March 9, 2025
Congrats to @AnkalaevM, beautiful pressure. Most of people dont like it, but you won the title for now.@AlexPereiraUFC, last dance ?
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— Jiri BJP Prochazka (@jiri_bjp) March 9, 2025
Alex Pereira exits the octagon after seeing his epic title reign come to an end in the #UFC313 main event.
What’s next for Pereira? 🗿 pic.twitter.com/ymP4BdCvtM
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) March 9, 2025
