Pereira, a former kickboxing champion, has been a phenom since joining the UFC in 2021. He won middleweight gold in 2022 before moving up to light-heavyweight and adding a second belt in 2023. Then, last year, he recorded three successful title defences with TKOs of Jamahal Hill, Jiri Prochazka and Khalil Rountree Jr.

Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV tonight (March 8) for a UFC 313 card topped by a massive light heavyweight title fight.Alex Pereira vs. Magomed AnkalaevThe main event will see Alex Pereira try to defend his light heavyweight belt for the first time when he meets #1 contender Magomed Ankalaev.

Magomed Ankalaev didn't exactly wrestle the UFC light heavyweight title away from Alex Pereira, but he did manage to beat "Poatan" at his own game. Ankalaev is now the 205-pound champion after a surprising unanimous decision from the judges in Las Vegas following a very close five-round fight.