Alex Pereira returns to the Octagon on Saturday to defend his light heavyweight title in the UFC 313 main event against Magomed Ankalaev at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Despite being the champion, Pereira enters as the underdog against the No. 1 contender, who is considered his toughest challenge yet. Ankalaev, known for his well-rounded game and grappling prowess, looks to dethrone the Brazilian striker and claim UFC gold for the first time. Pereira, coming off dominant performances, will aim to prove his doubters wrong in what promises to be a high-stakes showdown. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dana White (@danawhite) The co-main event features a short-notice rematch between former interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev, after fan favourite Dan Hooker was forced to withdraw due to injury. The pair first met in March 2023, with Gaethje edging out a majority decision. Fiziev, returning from a leg injury, hopes to even the score, while Gaethje looks to bounce back from a knockout loss to Max Holloway at UFC 300. Full UFC 313 Fight Card Main Card (10:00 PM ET): Light Heavyweight Championship: Alex Pereira (C) vs. Magomed Ankalaev Lightweight: Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev Lightweight: Jalin Turner vs. Ignacio Bahamondes Women’s Strawweight: Amanda Lemos vs. Iasmin Lucindo Lightweight: King Green vs. Mauricio Ruffy Preliminary Card (8:00 PM ET): Heavyweight: Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev Flyweight: Joshua Van vs. Rei Tsuruya Middleweight: Brunno Ferreira vs. Armen Petrosyan Welterweight: Alex Morono vs. Carlos Leal Early Prelims (6:00 PM ET): Featherweight: Mairon Santos vs. Francis Marshall Middleweight: Djorden Santos vs. Ozzy Diaz Featherweight: Chris Gutierrez vs. John Casteneda Potential 'Fight of the Night' contenders The co-main event between Gaethje and Fiziev is expected to deliver fireworks, as both fighters are known for their aggressive styles and striking power. Their first meeting was a back-and-forth war, and with both needing a statement win, fans can expect another explosive showdown. View this post on Instagram A post shared by UFC (@ufc) Other fights to watch include Jalin Turner vs. Ignacio Bahamondes, where Turner seeks redemption after a costly mistake at UFC 300, and Bahamondes aims for a third straight stoppage win. Amanda Lemos vs. Iasmin Lucindo is another intriguing matchup, with both strawweights bringing heavy hands and a willingness to engage in striking battles. Flyweight prospect Rei Tsuruya, a 22-year-old grappling specialist, looks to make a name for himself against the ever-improving Joshua Van. With Tsuruya’s elite ground game and Van’s striking, this could be a fight that steals the show. UFC 313 promises high-stakes action, title implications, and potential highlight-reel finishes as Pereira looks to hold onto his belt and Gaethje seeks redemption in the co-main event.
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