Magomed Ankalaev proclaimed “Chama time is over” at the UFC 313 press conference, flaunting his confidence ahead of an anticipated main event matchup with light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.
The No. 1 contender has been described as Pereira’s most difficult style matchup to date and will attempt to become the first fighter to defeat “Poatan” within the division Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
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Alex Pereira looks for his fourth title defence when he faces Magomed Ankalaev in his most difficult style matchup to date, plus Justin Gaethje makes his anticipated return against fellow striker Rafael Fiziev. Watch UFC 313 on Saturday, March 8 with prelim coverage beginning 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, and pay-per-view main card starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
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Both fighters stepped onto the scale on championship weight at an even 205 pounds Friday at the UFC 313 weigh-in to render their title matchup official.
Pereira has gone 5-0 since moving up from the middleweight division in 2023, including four consecutive stoppage wins in title fights. But the former two-weight world kickboxing champion has undeniably benefited from some preferable style matchups and has faced predominantly striking-based opponents.
"He should say thank you to Dana White for protecting him the whole time,” Ankalaev said of Pereira’s current title reign. “Now it’s gonna be a whole different thing. ... The same people that are saying 'Chama' now are going to be saying 'No Chama. It's Ankalaev time.'"
Ankalaev is riding a 13-fight unbeaten streak and possesses a wrestling/Sambo base that, on paper, could give Pereira the type of challenge he hasn’t yet faced in his still relatively young mixed martial arts career.
Co-main event athletes Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev are set for a rematch two years in the making. Both lightweight stars weighed 156 pounds ahead of their scheduled three-rounder, taking advantage of the one-pound allowance non-title competitors are afforded.
Gaethje earned a majority decision win over Fiziev at UFC 286 in a thrilling bout that earned a Fight of the Night award. Fiziev accepted the rematch on short notice after Gaethje’s original opponent, Dan Hooker, withdrew from the event late last month due to a significant hand injury sustained while training.
High-level lightweight action is common throughout UFC 313, with Jalin Turner vs. Ignacio Bahamondes and Bobby “King” Green vs. Mauricio Ruffy also taking place on the pay-per-view main card.
Turner and Bahamondes are both 6-foot-3 and two of the most dangerous finishers outside of the top 10 rankings of the division. Green and Ruffy also pair well stylistically and could make for yet another fan-friendly matchup on the 12-fight lineup.
The preliminary card is headlined by heavyweights Curtis Blaydes and Rizvan Kuniev whose combined weight exceeded 520 pounds.
Touted flyweights Josh Van and Rei Tsuruya are also slated to go head-to-head on the prelims. Their 125-pound contest will be a rare matchup in UFC history that features two fighters born in the 2000s.
“I feel like whoever takes a backward step will lose,” Van told Sportsnet’s Aaron Bronsteter and Anna Dua during the UFC 313 Official Weigh-in Show.
Van added that while weight cutting is often the most difficult aspect of fight week, this weight cut was one of the easiest of his career. The skilled 23-year-old is coming off back-to-back unanimous decision victories and is looking to add to his 5-1 UFC record.
All 24 athletes scheduled to compete Saturday successfully made weight on their first attempt. The official UFC 313 weigh-in results and projected bout order are below.
MAIN CARD
-- Alex Pereira (205) vs. Magomed Ankalaev (205)
-- Justin Gaethje (156) vs. Rafael Fiziev (156)
-- Jalin Turner (154.5) vs. Ignacio Bahamondes (156)
-- Amanda Lemos (116) vs. Iasmin Lucindo (115.5)
-- King Green (155.5) vs. Mauricio Ruffy (155.5)
PRELIMINARY CARD
-- Curtis Blaydes (262) vs. Rizvan Kuniev (264)
-- Joshua Van (125.5) vs. Rei Tsuruya (125.5)
-- Brunno Ferreira (186) vs. Armen Petrosyan (186)
-- Alex Morono (171) vs. Carlos Leal (169)
-- Mairon Santos (145.5) vs. Francis Marshall (145.5)
-- Chris Gutierrez (144.5) vs. John Castaneda (145)
-- Djorden Santos (185.5) vs. Ozzy Diaz (185.5)
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