As UFC 313 looms on March 8, 2025, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the MMA world is buzzing—not just about the light heavyweight title fight between champion Alex Pereira and challenger Magomed Ankalaev, but about Pereira’s unorthodox lead-up to the bout. With the event just weeks away,
“Poatan” has been spotted globetrotting—cornering Sean Strickland at UFC 312 in Australia and even rubbing shoulders with Drake at a concert—while Ankalaev grinds away in Vegas, sharpening his already lethal wrestling and striking at the UFC Performance Institute.
The contrast has ignited a firestorm of opinions. UFC legend Daniel Cormier didn’t mince words, warning that Pereira’s jet-setting could leave him vulnerable against Ankalaev, who’s riding a 13-fight unbeaten streak and poses the toughest test of Pereira’s 205-pound reign. “He better get home and lock in,” Cormier said, pointing to Ankalaev’s Dagestani wrestling edge. Chael Sonnen echoed the sentiment, suggesting Pereira’s focus might be wavering at the worst possible time.
Fans are split. Some see Pereira’s confidence—bolstered by training clips showing off his takedown defense—as a sign he’s ready to silence doubters again. Others worry the champ’s whirlwind schedule could spell disaster against a locked-in Ankalaev, who’s vowed to make Pereira “never the same” after their clash. Adding fuel to the fire, the fight card itself has seen turbulence, with late withdrawals like Vitor Petrino and Jean Matsumoto forcing the UFC to shuffle matchups, though stars like Justin Gaethje and Dan Hooker in the co-main event keep the hype alive.
Pereira, unfazed, insists he’s on track, brushing off the criticism with his trademark cool. But with Ankalaev promising a striking war despite his grappling roots, UFC 313 is shaping up as more than just a title defense—it’s a referendum on whether Pereira’s star power can outshine a challenger who’s all business. Will “Poatan” prove the doubters wrong, or will Ankalaev dethrone the Brazilian phenom? The Octagon will tell the tale.
