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It’s Stacked!!! Pereira, Ankalaev, Gaethje, and Hooker Top UFC 313 Fights

 

Regarding the UFC’s upcoming pay-per-view schedule, we still have the highly anticipated middleweight clash in Australia between Dricus Du Plessis and Sean Strickland to look forward to. Still, looking ahead, there’s no denying that UFC 313 is shaping up to be special for MMA betting fans.

UFC 313: Pereira, Ankalaev, Gaethje, Hooker Headline Epic Fights
Alex Pereira (red) of Brazil | BRAZIL PHOTO PRESS / Brazil Photo Press via AFP

 

UFC 313 Main and Co-Main Events Confirmed

Dana White and the UFC’s maiden Las Vegas pay-per-view of 2025 saw the announcement of its co-main and main event fights this past weekend during the UFC 311 broadcast, and to say that MMA diehards are hyped would be an understatement.

On March 8, 2025, inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, four of the company’s most popular and ultra-talented martial artists return to action, as Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereira is set to defend his 205lb title against the 20-1-1 record of Magomed Ankalaev in the evening’s main event, while top-ranked lightweights, Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker do battle in the co-main.

 

Pereira vs Ankalaev: Light Heavyweight Gold

We’ve long waited for this fight, and finally, Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev is official.

The 37-year-old Pereira has witnessed an unfathomable rise to MMA stardom since the former two-division GLORY Kickboxing champion transitioned to MMA and eventually joined the UFC. He’s the No.3-ranked pound-for-pound fighter on the planet. After capturing the UFC middleweight title and later losing it, he had a standout 2024 as the 205lb champion, which not only saw him sit as a two-weight class world champion but also as a Fighter of the Year candidate following three consecutive knockout wins over Khaliil Rountree Jr., Jiri Prochazka, and Jamahal Hill.

In just four years and 10 octagon appearances, Pereira (10-2 pro-MMA) has garnered a Hall of Fame-worthy legacy, with a slew of feats that may never be replicated across the 185lb and 205lb UFC divisions.

Pereira’s UFC 313 opponent, Ankalaev (19-1-1-1), has been a top-ranked light heavyweight for some time, having dodged defeat in 13 straight UFC bouts. Despite this, he’s struggled to obtain a second opportunity at gold after drawing with Jan Blachowicz in 2022, but that is about to change.

With two dominant wins over fellow top-ranked 205ers in 2024, there was no more denying Ankalaev of his shot at championship glory. Most notably, The Russian, according to early online betting odds, has a 66% chance of dethroning Poatan, which is anticipated to rise in the coming weeks.

 

Ankalaev is Pereira’s Biggest Threat to Date

Opinions on the Ankalaev vs Pereira aren’t short in volume, but the consensus right now is that the challenger will be too well-rounded for a striking-based fighter like Pereira.

Even the coach of the lightweight division’s No-1-ranked Arman Tsarukyan, Sergey Torosyan, explained how Ankalaev would be the kryptonite of Pereira:

I’m sure that it will be a very close matchup, but Ankalaev will be able to defeat him,” Torosyan told UFC news outlets. “ Magomed is a massive threat in this weight class. He moves well, controls the distance, hits hard, and is an excellent wrestler. He is a challenging opponent for Pereira. I don’t want to underestimate Pereiral. He also has a strong punch and rich experience, but Ankalaev will be his kryptonite.”

Tsorokyan added:

If there’s no wrestling involved, Pereira will outstriker Ankalaev. However, if Magomed engages the Brazilian with wrestling and Alex becomes worried about double leg takedowns, then Ankalaev could really dominate him in striking exchanges. Pereira would only have the advantage if the fight is pure kickboxing.”

 

Fans of Violence Rejoice: Gathje vs Hooker

Those looking for an evening of violence in early March needn’t look any further; Justin Gaethje versus Dan Hooker is booked, and it’s almost guaranteed to deliver a level of brutality that’ll have you wincing in pain empathy.

In unison with the Pereira vs Ankalaev announcement, Hooker vs Gaethje was announced during the UFC 311 broadcast this past weekend. Although we’re not even a month into 2025, this scrap has Fight of the Year contender written all over it.

Dan ‘The Hangman’ Hooker and Justin ‘The Highlight’ Gaethje present a combined 30 knockouts in pro-MMA, 19 UFC performance bonuses, and a long history of bloody battles that have stained the octagon canvas and our minds.

Both men are capable of a knockout or a three-round war on any given, but considering this one is scheduled for five five-minute rounds, we’ll get a championship-length war with nothing but lightweight rankings up for grabs.

Gaethje vs Hooker will be the ‘Peoples Main Event’ of UFC 313 and could potentially be a title eliminator for the next in line to challenge Islam Makhachev for his 155lb strap, as these two savages are a handful of the remaining top-ranked 155ers who the current champ hasn’t fought yet.

 

Hooker Predicts They’ll Die Trying

During a recent conversation with Submission Radio, Hooker made it clear that both he and Gaethje will go for the win or die trying:

Anything could happen, mate,” Hooker said. “ His skill is often underestimated by many fans – which I feel like as is mine. I know for a fact that there’s two fighters in there that are either going to win… Or they’re going to die trying.”

According to BetUS Sportsbook, the early odds have Gaethje as the favorite over Hooker, albeit by a small margin.

 

UFC 313 Schedule (So Far)

At the time of writing, 10 of an expected 14 fights have been signed and scheduled for UFC 313. Aside from the aforementioned co-main and main event bouts, fans can look forward to the following matchups:

  • Amanda Lemos vs Iasmin Lucindo [UFC Women’s Strawweight Bout]
  • Brunno Ferreira vs Armen Petrosyan [UFC Middleweight Bout]
  • Ozzy Diaz vs Djorden Santos [UFC Middleweight Bout]
  • Alex Morono vs Carlos Leal [UFC Welterweight Bout]
  • Mairon Santos vs Francis Marshall [UFC Lightweight Bout]
  • Bruno Silva vs Joshua Van [UFC Flyweight Bout]
  • Jhonata Diniz vs Vitor Petrino [UFC Light Heavyweight Bout]
  • Chris Gutierrez vs Jean Matsumoto [UFC Bantamweight Bout]

 

Bet on UFC 313 at BetUS!

 

Odds and information are accurate at the time of writing. Please check with official sources for the latest updates before placing any bets.

 

Question of the Day

When is Alex Pereira fighting next?


Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereira, one of the fastest-rising stars in the UFC, is scheduled to defend his light heavyweight championship versus Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 on March 8, 2025, live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

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