UFC 313 may be looked back upon as the event that defines light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira's legacy after all.

UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira clarifies that he was never ducking Magomed Ankalaev. Ankalaev (20-1-1 MMA, 11-1-1 UFC) has been heavily campaigning to fight Pereira (12-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC), but was passed up for a title fight on several occasions.

Undisputed UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira will return to action at UFC 313 when he takes on Russian contender Magomed Ankalaev on March 8.

Despite all his posturing, Alex Pereira will in fact next defend his title against Magomed Ankalaev, and it’s official for UFC 313.

Alex Pereira says he requested to fight Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 in March as he wanted to prove he wasn't ducking him.

Ankalaev (19-1-1, 1 NC) is ranked No. 1 in the UFC's official light heavyweight rankings. He's undefeated in his last 13 UFC fights and most recently defeated Aleksandar Rakic. Ankalaev previously fought Jan Blachowicz for the vacant light heavyweight title in 2022, which ended in a split draw.

Magomed Ankalaev promises to punish Alex Pereira in the UFC 313 main event, setting the stage for an intense showdown in the Octagon.

Anthony Smith announces his retirement fight, tells a powerful story of receiving support from Bryce Mitchell before his most recent bout, reveals he asked the UFC brass to compete in Power Slap and more.

The top UFC contender Magomed Ankalaev finally got the title shot opportunity after a long wait. He feels this is Alex Pereira’s biggest mistake and warns him about his ‘end.