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Alex Pereira walked into UFC 313 with a title, a reputation, and an introduction reserved for legends.
Bruce Buffer introduced him as “The one, the only, Alex Pereira!”—a line he’s only ever used for Conor McGregor and Jon Jones. Elite company. Championship energy. Then he stared down Magomed Ankalaev for almost 5 minutes. But five rounds later later, after the Pereira was no longer the one. The
Magomed Ankalaev claimed the light heavyweight title with a unanimous decision win, using relentless pressure, clinch control, and a near-knockdown in the second round to secure victory. The fight was booed by the 18,000 in attendance. It wasn’t the war Dana White expected and White looked shocked by the results, but there was no controversy over the scorecards. “I thought Ankalaev won the fight. I wasn’t shocked when I heard the decision,” White said post-fight.
The Buffer Blessing—or Curse?
Getting the “one and only” treatment from Bruce Buffer is a rare honor. But for Pereira, it might now be a curse. McGregor and Jones both heard it before making history. Pereira, unforunately, heard it before losing his belt.
@jzosports Bruce Buffer introduced Alex Pereira as “the one, the only “ Had only used it for Conor McGregor and Jon Jones #brucebuffer #conormgregor #ufc313
Whether it was a jinx or just bad timing, Dana White isn’t closing the book on Pereira just yet, confirming an immediate rematch is “probably” happening.
Was Pereira Distracted?
Some, including Daniel Cormier and Matt Brown, questioned Pereira’s focus leading into this fight. The champ had been busy, recently traveling to Australia to corner Sean Strickland at UFC 312, attending promotional events, and living the life of a rising MMA superstar.
White didn’t outright say distractions played a role, but he pointed out how hard it is for a fighter to stay locked in when fame and fortune come knocking. “There’s no doubt that everybody knew that Ankalaev was going to be a tough fight for him,” White said. “This was probably going to be the biggest challenge of his career.”
“Big Ank Time”
Meanwhile, Ankalaev may have walked out of UFC 313 with more than just gold, he’s has a new nickname. The newly crowned champ has been dubbed “Big Ank Time”, a moniker that might stick if he keeps delivering.
For now, the light heavyweight division has a new king. But if Dana White gets his way, the Pereira-Ankalaev rivalry is far from over.
@jzosports Magomed Ankalaev new nickname “Big Ank Time #ufc313
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