Written by 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 Muhammad
Final #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 ?
//\
— 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