Over the past 12 months, Alex Pereira has become arguably the biggest star in the UFC. The Brazilian knockout artist has become known for his willingness to fight anyone, any place, and at any time. And those exploits led him to plenty of gold.
After losing his middleweight championship to Israel Adesanya back in June of 2023, Poatan moved up in weight and took on all comers. He secured the light heavyweight title with a split decision victory against Jan Blachowicz barely a month on from that defeat to the Last Style Bender, and that has gone on to become his forte at 205 pounds.
Four straight knockout victories in one year against Jiri Prochazka (twice), Jamahal Hill, and Khalil Rountree Jr. quickly led Pereira to become the most beloved fighter on the planet. But despite the acclaim, everyone knew that Dagestani decision merchant Magomed Ankalaev could prove to be his toughest test. Ultimately, that came to fruition.
Ankalaev Secures the Gold
Heading into the blockbuster title bout at UFC 313, online crypto and Bitcoin betting sites couldn’t separate the two fighters. The odds on fight night from Thunderpick Bitcoin betting made the reigning champion the narrowest of 1.80 favourites, with Ankalaev breathing down his neck at 2.00. Once Bruce Buffer’s introductions were out of the way, and the two gladiators did battle, it was clear to see why the odds were so tight.
Many thought that Pereira simply had to stop Ankalaev’s takedown attempts if he was to have any chance of victory. And he did exactly that, with the Dagestani going 0 for 12 in his bid to get Poatan to the ground. But despite that success, the Brazilian was uncharacteristically gun-shy, and that allowed the challenger to seize the initiative.
Despite not inflicting too much damage, Ankalaev pressed the action, backing up Pereira to the cage throughout the clash. Add to that the fact that the reigning champion simply wasn’t throwing much other than a few leg kicks, and it left him ripe for the picking of the Las Vegas judges. And they duly obliged, handing Ankalaev a narrow unanimous decision victory.
Now, attention turns to what’s next for both men. We, however, will be focusing specifically on Pereira. So, with that being said, which direction will he head in?
Immediate Rematch with Ankalaev
When asked about the loss at UFC 313, Pereira succinctly said, “Of course, it’s not the result I wanted. We were confident for this fight. I was well. I trained hard.” Despite his disappointment, the now-former champion is never one to make excuses, but he seems to be angling for an immediate rematch. According to reports from MMA Junkie, conversations about revisiting the showdown are already underway, fueled by Pereira’s insistence that Ankalaev’s clinch-heavy strategy should not have been rewarded by the judges.
His corner, including coach Glover Teixeira, has vocally supported the idea of another bout. “We had this defeat, but in my opinion, he won,” Teixeira stated, expressing frustration over the decision. Both he and fellow coach Plinio Cruz believe Pereira will return stronger, promising to unveil “Poatan 2.0” in a potential rematch. “We’ll train more, study more, and deliver a better version of Poatan. A more mean version,” Cruz confidently shared.
From Ankalaev’s perspective, he’s equally open to revisiting the rivalry. “I’m ready for Round 6, but this time it will not go the full distance,” the new champion declared after the fight. The rematch makes sense from multiple angles, especially given Dana White’s confirmation that it’s “probably” next.
A rematch would offer Pereira the opportunity to make adjustments to counter Ankalaev’s game plan, which shut down his signature weapons. He will know that he simply must be more active if he is to crack the code of the Russian boogeyman. Now that he knows that he can stuff his takedown attempts, his attention turns to a higher output, and that could well lead him toward redemption.
Move to Heavyweight to Take on Tom Aspinall
Pereira’s hulking frame and devastating power have always hinted at the possibility of a move to heavyweight, and UFC 313’s outcome may catalyze this transition. Fuel was added to the fire of a potential move up the divisions back in November when current heavyweight king Jon Jones stated that he would rather have a legacy-defining fight against Poatan than unifying the gold against interim champ Tom Aspinall. But what if it was the Brit who fought Pereira, rather than Jonny Bones?
Aspinall has been on a tear as of late, quickly rising through the ranks at a similar speed to Pereira over the last couple of years. He has knocked out his last three opponents – namely, Curtis Blaydes, Sergei Pavlovich, and Marcin Tybura – in the first round, catapulting him to the status of interim champion. And if Jones isn’t quick to get in the Octagon with him, perhaps Pereira will be.
As the old saying goes, styles make fights. Both men are stand-up fighters, with Pereira being a fearsome kickboxer and Aspinall possessing a similar skillset. Admittedly, there will be a size difference between the two men, but a potential clash between the two of them would do huge numbers at the box office.
