Alex Pereira is on the new streak of a lifetime, but when there’s one factor we learn about Las Vegas, it’s that everybody’s luck finally runs out.
“Poatan” defends his mild heavyweight title for the fourth straight time Saturday in the principle occasion of UFC 313, and for the third time in “Sin Metropolis.” His previous two Vegas headliners have been fortuitous as he scored memorable knockouts of Jiri Prochazka and Jamahal Hill, and he’s pushing his chips again in to tackle Magomed Ankalaev, the rightful No. 1 contender.
Ankalaev is undefeated in 13 straight contests, and have been it not for a last-second loss in his UFC debut in 2018 and some unusual outcomes alongside the best way, there’s a world the place he turned champion years in the past. Nevertheless, Pereira—No. 2 within the MMA Preventing Pound-for-Pound Rankings—has outpaced contenders in two divisions with a 3rd probably in his sights, so there’s loads on the road tonight apart from the gold across the Brazilian slugger’s waist.
Is Ankalaev about to be the final word spoiler?
In different predominant card motion, Justin Gaethje meets Rafael Fiziev in an surprising light-weight rematch, towering 155ers Jalin Turner and Ignacio Bahamondes face off, one-time strawweight title challenger Amanda Lemos places Iasmin Lucindo to the check, and King Inexperienced seems to be to gradual the momentum of the white-hot Preventing Nerds staff when he fights Mauricio Ruffy within the light-weight opener.
What: UFC 313
The place: T-Cellular Enviornment in Las Vegas
When: Saturday, March 8. The three-fight early preliminary card begins at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+ and Disney+, adopted by a four-fight preliminary card airing on ESPNews and ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET. The five-fight predominant card begins at 10 p.m. ET solely on ESPN+ pay-per-view.
(Numbers in parentheses point out standing within the MMA Preventing World Rankings and Pound-for-Pound Rankings)
Alex Pereira (1, P4P-2) vs. Magomed Ankalaev (2)
Alex Pereira’s run on the prime has been a pleasure to look at, which makes it that a lot more durable to choose in opposition to him.
Look, I don’t need Pereira to lose a dreary determination to Magomed Ankalaev and miss out on an opportunity to leap as much as heavyweight for the possibility to grow to be the UFC’s first three-division champion. MMA is meant to be enjoyable and meritocracy be damned, that will be amazingly enjoyable! However Ankalaev goes to maintain enterprise Saturday.
It received’t all be wrestling. I do know everybody expects Ankalaev to go full Khabib right here, and simply shoot single legs for 25 minutes, however that received’t work in opposition to Pereira and his much-improved floor sport. You will get him down, however preserving him down is one other story, and that’s only a waste of Ankalaev’s vitality.
It’s the specter of the takedown that’s the key to Ankalaev’s success. He’ll get Pereira down early, simply to get him considering, and that can open up his hanging sport. Ankalaev steadily will get knocked for not pushing the tempo within the standup, which is honest, however when he sees openings, he sometimes finds a technique to end.
Pereira’s keys to victory aren’t any secret. Maintain the battle standing and let these magical palms fly. Each trade places Ankalaev susceptible to a knockout, and if Pereira can discover his rhythm on the ft, there’s little Ankalaev will be capable of do aside from panic shoot.
If the Pereira period involves an finish Saturday, it’s solely proper that it occurs in dramatic trend. After dropping two of the primary three rounds to Ankalaev’s methodical ways, the champion ramps up the aggression within the championship rounds, solely to be put to sleep within the fourth.
Yup, I’m going Ankalaev by knockout.
Choose: Ankalaev
Justin Gaethje (5) vs. Rafael Fiziev (11)
Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev won’t be as enjoyable as among the different potentialities we might have had for Dan Hooker’s substitute, however that is nonetheless a battle between two of the most effective light-weight strikers on this planet, and I’m not taking that with no consideration.
Their first assembly was as entertaining because it was shut and the rematch guarantees to be one other thriller. It’s only a excellent matchup, with Gaethje’s simple model pairing completely with Fiziev’s extra angular strategy. The one disappointment is that they weren’t capable of make this a five-rounder.
I had Fiziev profitable the primary matchup two rounds to at least one and I predict the universe rights itself this time. It’s not honest for Gaethje to lose out on a possible title shot in a runback that he wasn’t planning to provide, however Fiziev is ready to make a powerful comeback and “The Spotlight” simply so occurs to be standing in his approach.
They’re going to a choice once more, with Fiziev incomes a unanimous nod.
Choose: Fiziev
Jalin Turner vs. Ignacio Bahamondes
Lastly, these two are choosing on somebody their very own measurement!
I discover it darkly comedian that the ginormous Jalin Turner and Ignacio Bahamondes lower all these kilos this week simply to run into an opponent with practically similar dimensions, however that’s the weird sport these gents have chosen to play.
Turner has misplaced three of his previous 4, however his cut up determination setbacks to Dan Hooker and Mateusz Gamrot really spoke extra to his potential than something. At instances, “The Tarantula” seems to be like he’s simply two or three changes (or maybe a brand new weight class?) away from making it over that prime 10 hump (let’s kindly overlook the drubbing Renato Moicano simply gave him). He’s had expertise going up in opposition to the elite, which is greater than Bahamondes can say up to now.
Bahamondes is definitely the place Turner was in 2023 when he took a step up in competitors, however now it’s Turner taking part in the gatekeeper. I belief Turner’s standup and ending instincts slightly extra, so I’m leaning in direction of him beating Bahamondes to the punch and ending within the first.
Choose: Turner
Amanda Lemos (6) vs. Iasmin Lucindo (7)
We didn’t see the most effective of Iasmin Lucindo in her most up-to-date outing, which is comprehensible on condition that she took on the all the time powerful Marina Rodriguez. Nonetheless, she used her grappling to intestine out a detailed name, and like Turner, most likely discovered a ton from the expertise.
Sufficient to get previous Amanda Lemos? I’m not satisfied. Lucindo’s standup nonetheless wants work and Lemos can match her on the ft and on the bottom. It’s fascinating to see the 23-year-old evolving in actual time, however Rodriguez didn’t afford her a lot room for errors and neither will Lemos.
Lemos stings Lucindo along with her hanging, prompting her to grapple, which Lemos might be very happy to do. We’ll be handled to some spirited scrambles, with Lemos finally gaining the offensive edge and catching Lucindo with a submission.
Choose: Lemos
King Inexperienced vs. Mauricio Ruffy
King Inexperienced vs. Mauricio Ruffy is one other unbelievable piece of matchmaking to open the pay-per-view. Each guys might be free as a goose with their palms nearer to their knees than up defending their faces and there might be an actual sense that something can occur as soon as the fists and ft begin flying.
As with numerous fighters identified for flashy finishes, there are questions surrounding Ruffy’s cardio. Can Inexperienced climate an early storm and switch up the warmth within the center interval after which outlast Ruffy, or has Father Time actually caught as much as the 50-fight veteran? One factor to remember is that when Inexperienced loses today, he goes down onerous. His final 4 losses have all come by knockout or submission.
Inexperienced stays aggressive at 38, however I can’t get previous the age issue solely. A lot of this matchup might be decided by velocity and athleticism, each of that are closely in Ruffy’s favor.
Ruffy by knockout within the first or early within the second.
Choose: Ruffy
Prelims
Joshua Van def. Rei Tsuruya
Brunno Ferreira def. Armen Petrosyan
Carlos Leal def. Alex Morono
Mairon Santos def. Francis Marshall
Djorden Santos def. Ozzy Diaz
