MMA fans are just weeks away from UFC’s first pay-per-view event of the spring—UFC 313—set for Saturday, March 8, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. While the card is packed with exciting matchups, all eyes are on the main event, where Alex Pereira will defend his light heavyweight title for the fourth time against Magomed Ankalaev. The PPV marks the Brazilian’s long-awaited return after a five-month layoff, following his dominant title defense against Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307 last year.

Unlike Pereira’s previous opponents like Jiri Prochazka, Jamahal Hill, and Jan Błachowicz, Ankalaev is widely considered the most dangerous and formidable challenger to his reign, standing out from the former kickboxer’s past foes. Though the Dagestani has yet to submit an opponent in the UFC, his striking, combined with his grappling and Greco-Roman wrestling skills, may give him a distinct edge over the Brazilian.

UFC legend and analyst Michael Bisping offered his perspective on how the duo is matched against each other during a Q&A session with fans on YouTube. “When you look at Ankalaev, the power he brings, and his size, I don’t think he’s the kickboxer Pereira is. Pereira is far, far better on the feet—slicker, faster, more experienced… But I do believe Magomed Ankalaev can neutralize many of Pereira’s advantages,” Bisping explained.

‘The Count’ added, “That’s a good way of putting it if I do say so myself. Ankalaev isn’t even a grappler. He’s not a Dagestani wrestler” but Bisping also acknowledged, “Ankalaev knows wrestling. He can wrestle.”

It is true! Ankalaev is not a grappling machine but rather a striker who can mix in wrestling to great impact. The Dagestani has never secured a submission victory in his career, with all his bouts ending in decisions, knockouts, or TKOs. In terms of grappling stats, Ankalaev averages 1.02 takedowns per fight, with a takedown accuracy of approximately 31%, and boasts a takedown defense rate of 86%.

While he may not be a traditional grappler, his versatility and well-rounded skills are undeniable, and fans can certainly appreciate his ability to adapt to different situations in the Octagon. Remember his outing against Jan Błachowicz at UFC 282? After having his legs and shins completely chewed by the Polish 205fer in the opening three rounds, the Dagestani turned to grappling and went on to dominate the last two rounds.

And this may be a challenge for Pereira, who transitioned into MMA in 2021 after a distinguished kickboxing career. Despite his striking expertise, ‘Poatan’ has some grappling experience, having mentioned in a Reddit video that he competed in two grappling matches. One with a kimono and the other without the gi.

With all eyes now on the upcoming event, the question remains. Who will emerge victorious when these two formidable fighters clash in the Octagon? Meanwhile, let’s hear from former opponents of both fighters, who have shared their thoughts on the outcome of the upcoming bout.

What’s Jan Blachowicz’s prediction for the upcoming Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev fight at UFC 313?

Jan Błachowicz, the Polish standout, is undoubtedly one of the best people to ask about the likely victor in the upcoming UFC 313 event. Over his extensive UFC career, Błachowicz has faced both Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira. As already mentioned, he fought Ankalaev at UFC 282, where their title bout ended in a draw. A few months later at UFC 291, Błachowicz took on Pereira in his light heavyweight debut. This is where the Brazilian secured a razor-thin win with great struggle.

Initially, Jan Blachowicz leaned toward Ankalaev as the favorite in this matchup. However, after witnessing Ankalaev’s performance against Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308 in October, he now views Pereira as the more likely winner. In an insightful interview, ‘Prince of Cieszyn’ shared his thoughts on Ankalaev’s potential to win.

He stated, “He said the same before Rakic, that we were going to see a new Ankalaev, but everybody saw that this fight was very boring. I almost fell asleep, so maybe he’ll start saying the same, and then he’ll fight again in a very boring style… Three fights ago, I would have picked Ankalaev, but now Pereira,” the former champ explained. Despite Ankalaev’s lackluster performance, he still managed to secure a win over Rakic.

What’s your take on the upcoming UFC 313? Do you think Alex Pereira could pass his most likely toughest test against Magomed Ankalaev? Do you think the Brazilian will have strong answers to Ankalaev’s takedowns if they happen? Drop your opinion below.