On Sunday, March 8, all fight fans will have their eyes on the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, as UFC 313 comes to town. The event promises to be one of the most explosive yet, with a mouthwatering card that includes a highly anticipated title bout between UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev, plus a serious Lightweight collision between Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker.
The main event is undoubtedly the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira defending his title against the undefeated Russian, Magomed Ankalaev. This fight looks too close to call, and the latest sports betting for UFC 313 suggests it’s not to be missed.
Pereira, known for his striking ability and knockout power, will put his belt on the line once again. He has defended it three times since claiming it back in November 2023, including impressive knockout victories over former champions Jiří Procházka, Jamahal Hill, and Khalil Rountree Jr.
The Brazilian began his MMA career in 2015, then took a four-year break from the circuit before returning as a 33-year-old in 2020. Victory over Ankalaev would see Pereira move to five title fight victories at 205 pounds, surpassing UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier and moving to second all-time. But he will have to earn it against the mightily impressive Magomed Ankalaev.
The man from Dagestan is one of the most dangerous fighters in the entire light-heavyweight division. He has only lost once in 22 fights, which was back in 2018. Ankalaev can control the pace of a battle and boasts impressive striking and grappling techniques. The No. 1 ranked contender comes into the fight after a unanimous decision victory over Aleksandar Rakić and stoppage wins over Johnny Walker, Anthony Smith, and Ion Cutelaba.
The co-main event on the card includes a highly anticipated clash between Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker. The upcoming 5 round fight had Hooker claiming:
“I just think the UFC wants to see someone die,” Hooker said on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “I think they just want to finish it. They want this fight for the fans, as well. They want to see someone go down. They want to see blood.”
Former lightweight champion Gaethje suffered a late defeat to Max Holloway in April and hopes to bounce back and claim a place as one of the top contenders for a title shot. Hooker, however, finds himself on a three-fight win streak, including wins over Jalin Turner and Claudio Puelles and a Fight of the Night over Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 305.
Gaethje is an exciting, fearless fighter, and the fans love him for it, but Kiwi Hooker will be looking to make a statement of his own. Expect fireworks.
While the fighters have their pre-fight routines and training schedules all mapped out, fans can also prepare for fight night. Here’s our guide to getting fight-ready: