Alex Pereira is the talk of the MMA world and his UFC return has been highly debated.
The 37-year-old is the UFC light heavyweight champion and puts his 205lb strap on the line for the fourth time this weekend.
He will stand toe-to-toe with Russia’s Magomed Ankalaev in the early hours of Sunday morning at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Ankalaev is on a nine-fight winning streak having made light work of several top UFC lightweights in the last four years.
The 32-year-old has been considered by several MMA fans, including ex-UFC champion Daniel Cormier, as the toughest opponent of Pereira’s title reign yet.
Pereira defended his 205lb strap three times in 2024, knocking out Jiri Prochazka and Jamahal Hill, before stopping Khalil Rountree Jr.
The Brazilian from Sao Paulo, however, is yet to come across a submission specialist like Ankalaev.
UFC 313’s main event promises to be an intriguing affair, and talkSPORT.com has identified the host of UFC stars who have predicted the huge clash.
Who is backing Ankalaev?
Jamahal Hill
Having fought and lost to Pereira, there’s no surprise Hill’s backing his former rival’s opponent at UFC 313.
“I know imma get hate for this one, but I get hate anyways, f*** y’all,” he said.
“I’m going to go with Magomed. I feel he has more tools to win.
“Obviously Alex has that one hit wonder. If he catches you, he can put you away, but I believe Magomed also has that.”
‘Sweet Dreams’ was knocked out by Pereira at UFC 300 in April 2024 on his return from injury after winning the 205lb belt against Glover Teixeira a year-and-a-half prior.
He has since suffered another defeat to Jiri Prochazka and takes on Khalil Rountree Jr in his next bout in April.
Islam Makhachev
Although UFC lightweight champion Makhachev has not entirely said that Ankalaev will defeat Pereira, he has admitted that his his fellow Russian has the skills to do so.
Makhachev spoke to UFC Hall of Famer Cormier last June and doubted Pereira’s wrestling.
“You don’t believe this,” he said in response to Cormier claiming Pereira could have Olympic level wrestling.
“Put him against Ankalaev. Of course [he would take him], easy.”
Who is backing Pereira?
Israel Adesanya
Pereira is a slight favourite in the majority of oddsmakers, but UFC stars have him as the overwhelming victor at UFC 313.
One of those fighters includes Adesanya, who has fought ‘Poatan’ four times during his fighting career, and is the last person to defeat him.
“I’m going to go with Pereira because of momentum,” Adesanya said on his YouTube channel.
“He is just on a tear right now. I like the way he’s even able to do it with the amount of travel he does.
“I think it’s going to go leg kicks, leg kicks, leg kicks, left hook. Alex Pereira by KO over two-and-a-half rounds.
“He’s going to knock him out in the fourth or fifth round.”
Michael Bisping
“It’s a tough one,” British MMA pioneer and former UFC champion Michael Bisping said on his podcast.
“If Pereira is successful, I think it’s a wrap for the light-heavyweight division. He’s cleaned out the division, there would be massive opportunities.
“I’ve gotta go Pereira.”
Pereira has wins over four of the top-seven ranked UFC light heavyweights.
UFC President Dana White has suggested the Brazilian has talked about wanting to move up a division if he beats Ankalaev to fight Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall.
UFC light heavyweight rankings
Alex Pereira (c)
- Magomed Ankalaev
- Jiri Prochazka
- Jan Blachowicz
- Jamahal Hill
- Aleksandar Rakic
- Carlos Ulberg
- Khalil Rountree Jr
- Nikita Krylov
- Volkan Oezdemir
- Johnny Walker
Robert Whittaker
“It’s so hard, because either Pereira knocks him out or he gets held down for five rounds and loses,” former UFC middleweight champion Whittaker said.
“I’m going with Pereira.”
Colby Covington
Covington has also challenged for UFC title, and believed like many other of his fellow fighters that Pereira’s leg kicks will win him the fight.
“Pereira has very good calf kicks… I’m going to go Alex Pereira,” he said.
Henry Cejudo
Cejudo is the only fighter to win an Olympic gold medal and UFC title.
‘Triple C’ agreed with Covington, suggesting Pereira’s kicks will get him over the line.
“You’re going to have to try and hurt Alex, before he starts kicking your legs,” he said on Pound 4 Pound.
“And I just don’t feel he’s going to do that. So for that reason, I believe that he will strike with Alex Pereira, so for that reason I gotta go Alex Pereira via KO.”
Kamaru Usman
“I love Ankalaev but I think Alex Pereira is just in a groove and rhythm to where if he’s able to kick your legs, he’s gonna break you down,” ex-welterweight champion Usman said.
“As long as he’s able to keep you stationary, if that God given hand of death left hook touches you, it’s gonna be a tough one.
“If Ankalaev doesn’t mix it up then he’s going to be in trouble. I’m gonna go Alex Pereira and I can see it doing to a decision.”
Stephen Thompson
‘Wonderboy’ believes Pereira’s dominance will guide him to victory at UFC 313.
“You gotta go with Pereira. Pereira is so dominant,” Thompson said.
“He beats guys before they even step in there. You saw it against Jiri Prochazka.”
Jan Blachowicz
Blachowicz’s last two UFC fights have come against Pereira and Ankalaev.
He says Ankalaev needs to ‘believe’ in himself to get a victory over the champion.
“If Ankalaev fights, he’s going to lose. He needs to do more. He’s a good fighter, but that style won’t work against Pereira.
“He has to believe in what he’s doing, not just fight carefully to avoid punches…
“Three fights ago, I would have picked Ankalaev, but now Pereira.”
Blachowicz takes on Carlos Ulberg before Leon Edwards fights Sean Brady at UFC London on March 22.
