Fight week for the UFC 313 pay-per-view this Saturday has kicked off with the release of the promotion’s latest Countdown episode. Under the spotlight in this edition is the headline clash between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev.
Saturday’s UFC 313 lineup is topped by a championship contest, with light heavyweight kingpin Pereira (12-2) looking to add a fourth successful defense to his reign, which got underway with a knockout victory over Jiří Procházka at UFC 295 in November 2023.
If the Brazilian is to continue his rule atop the 205-pound mountain, he must stall the title ambitions of a longtime foe in Ankalaev (19-1-1, 1 NC). The Dagestani has worked his way back to the gold after falling short in his first challenge against Jan Błachowicz in 2022, which ended in a split draw.
Since a no contest against Johnny Walker further stalled his push up the ladder, Ankalaev has won two straight, brutally stopping Walker in their rematch before getting the better of the highly regarded Aleksandar Rakić in Abu Dhabi last October.
The Russian standout will now look to do what Jamahal Hill, Procházka, and Khalil Rountree all failed to in 2024 by unseating “Poatan” from the light heavyweight throne.
Ahead of that battle in Las Vegas, fans can catch a preview in the full episode of UFC 313 Countdown on the promotion’s official YouTube channel.
