Mauricio Ruffy Shines as Ankalaev Claims Title
The UFC 313 event showcased a series of thrilling matches, with Ankalaev's title win and Ruffy's impressive knockout being the highlights of the night, as the crowd witnessed an unforgettable display of martial arts skills and determination from the fighters.
Magomed Ankalaev defeated Alex Pereira via unanimous decision to become the new UFC light heavyweight champion at UFC 313, with Mauricio Ruffy opening the main card with a stunning first-round spinning wheel kick finish.
Ankalaev, 32, showed no fear of Pereira and went on the offensive, consistently walking Pereira down and eventually staggering him with a left hand in the second frame. Ankalaev continued to be the aggressor and beat Pereira with angles and striking volume in the third stanza. In the championship rounds, Ankalaev shifted strategies, repeatedly stifling Pereira's offense with methodical clinches and level changes against the fence.
The event featured several exciting matches, including Djorden Santos' unanimous decision win over Ozzy Diaz, Mairon Santos' split decision victory over Francis Marshall, and Alex Morono's TKO win over Carlos Leal. Other notable results included Brunno Ferreira's submission loss to Armen Petrosyan, Joshua Van's unanimous decision win over Rei Tsuruya, and King Green's knockout loss to Mauricio Ruffy.
With his victory, Ankalaev is now unbeaten over his past 14 UFC bouts, the second-best mark in the history of the light heavyweight division. The event took place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on March 8, 2025, and delivered an absolute spectacle, with several changes to the fight card up until the day of the event.
