Alex Pereira is the discuss of the MMA world and his UFC return has been extremely debated.
The 37-year-old is the UFC mild heavyweight champion and places his 205lb strap on the road for the fourth time this weekend.
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He’ll stand toe-to-toe with Russia’s Magomed Ankalaev within the early hours of Sunday morning on the T-Cell Area in Las Vegas.
Ankalaev is on a nine-fight successful streak having made mild work of a number of prime UFC lightweights within the final 4 years.
The 32-year-old has been thought-about by a number of MMA followers, together with ex-UFC champion Daniel Cormier, because the hardest opponent of Pereira’s title reign but.
Pereira defended his 205lb strap 3 times in 2024, knocking out Jiri Prochazka and Jamahal Hill, earlier than stopping Khalil Rountree Jr.
The Brazilian from Sao Paulo, nonetheless, is but to return throughout a submission specialist like Ankalaev.
UFC 313’s predominant occasion guarantees to be an intriguing affair, and talkSPORT.com has recognized the host of UFC stars who’ve predicted the massive conflict.
Who’s backing Ankalaev?
Jamahal Hill
Having fought and misplaced to Pereira, there’s no shock Hill’s backing his former rival’s opponent at UFC 313.
“I do know imma get hate for this one, however I get hate anyhow, f*** y’all,” he mentioned.
“I’m going to go along with Magomed. I really feel he has extra instruments to win.
“Clearly Alex has that one hit marvel. If he catches you, he can put you away, however I consider Magomed additionally has that.”
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‘Candy Desires’ was knocked out by Pereira at UFC 300 in April 2024 on his return from harm after successful the 205lb belt in opposition to Glover Teixeira a year-and-a-half prior.
He has since suffered one other defeat to Jiri Prochazka and takes on Khalil Rountree Jr in his subsequent bout in April.
Islam Makhachev
Though UFC light-weight champion Makhachev has not fully mentioned that Ankalaev will defeat Pereira, he has admitted that his his fellow Russian has the talents to take action.
Makhachev spoke to UFC Corridor of Famer Cormier final June and doubted Pereira’s wrestling.
“You don’t consider this,” he mentioned in response to Cormier claiming Pereira might have Olympic degree wrestling.
“Put him in opposition to Ankalaev. After all [he would take him], simple.”
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Who’s backing Pereira?
Israel Adesanya
Pereira is a slight favorite within the majority of oddsmakers, however UFC stars have him because the overwhelming victor at UFC 313.
A type of fighters contains Adesanya, who has fought ‘Poatan’ 4 occasions throughout his preventing profession, and is the final individual to defeat him.
“I’ll go along with Pereira due to momentum,” Adesanya mentioned on his YouTube channel.
“He’s simply on a tear proper now. I like the way in which he’s even capable of do it with the quantity of journey he does.
“I believe it’s going to go leg kicks, leg kicks, leg kicks, left hook. Alex Pereira by KO over two-and-a-half rounds.
“He’s going to knock him out within the fourth or fifth spherical.”
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Michael Bisping
“It’s a tricky one,” British MMA pioneer and former UFC champion Michael Bisping mentioned on his podcast.
“If Pereira is profitable, I believe it’s a wrap for the light-heavyweight division. He’s cleaned out the division, there can be huge alternatives.
“I’ve gotta go Pereira.”
Pereira has wins over 4 of the top-seven ranked UFC mild heavyweights.
UFC President Dana White has instructed the Brazilian has talked about wanting to maneuver up a division if he beats Ankalaev to struggle Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall.
UFC mild heavyweight rankings
Alex Pereira (c)
- Magomed Ankalaev
- Jiri Prochazka
- Jan Blachowicz
- Jamahal Hill
- Aleksandar Rakic
- Carlos Ulberg
- Khalil Rountree Jr
- Nikita Krylov
- Volkan Oezdemir
- Johnny Walker
Robert Whittaker
“It’s so onerous, as a result of both Pereira knocks him out or he will get held down for 5 rounds and loses,” former UFC middleweight champion Whittaker mentioned.
“I’m going with Pereira.”
Colby Covington
Covington has additionally challenged for UFC title, and believed like many different of his fellow fighters that Pereira’s leg kicks will win him the struggle.
“Pereira has superb calf kicks… I’m going to go Alex Pereira,” he mentioned.
Henry Cejudo
Cejudo is the one fighter to win an Olympic gold medal and UFC title.
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‘Triple C’ agreed with Covington, suggesting Pereira’s kicks will get him over the road.
“You’re going to need to attempt to damage Alex, earlier than he begins kicking your legs,” he mentioned on Pound 4 Pound.
“And I simply don’t really feel he’s going to do this. So for that motive, I consider that he’ll strike with Alex Pereira, so for that motive I gotta go Alex Pereira by way of KO.”
Kamaru Usman
“I like Ankalaev however I believe Alex Pereira is simply in a groove and rhythm to the place if he’s capable of kick your legs, he is gonna break you down,” ex-welterweight champion Usman mentioned.
“So long as he’s capable of hold you stationary, if that God given hand of dying left hook touches you, it is gonna be a tricky one.
“If Ankalaev doesn’t combine it up then he will be in hassle. I am gonna go Alex Pereira and I can see it doing to a call.”
Stephen Thompson
‘Wonderboy’ believes Pereira’s dominance will information him to victory at UFC 313.
“You gotta go along with Pereira. Pereira is so dominant,” Thompson mentioned.
“He beats guys earlier than they even step in there. You noticed it in opposition to Jiri Prochazka.”
Jan Blachowicz
Blachowicz’s final two UFC fights have come in opposition to Pereira and Ankalaev.
He says Ankalaev must ‘consider’ in himself to get a victory over the champion.
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“If Ankalaev fights, he’s going to lose. He must do extra. He’s a superb fighter, however that type received’t work in opposition to Pereira.
“He has to consider in what he’s doing, not simply struggle fastidiously to keep away from punches…
“Three fights in the past, I’d have picked Ankalaev, however now Pereira.”
Blachowicz takes on Carlos Ulberg earlier than Leon Edwards fights Sean Brady at UFC London on March 22.