Alex Pereira breaks silence, reveals future plans after loss

Alex Pereira was not beaten Saturday night at the main UFC 313 event, but he lost his lightweight title. Magomed Ankalaev won a less than shocking war to win the UFC lightweight championship.

Ankalaev’s ability to close Pereira’s offense was the key, though I gave the latter a little advantage in my outcome card (48-47). In any case, the official result was a unanimous win for Ankalaev.

Pereira conducted an interview in Octagon after the war, but he was further explained in a video posted on social media that ESPN MMA reprinted.

In short, Pereira says he will return and that he is already watching adjustments he can make for the match.

Pereira’s video answers some questions off the stick, eliminating a ton of speculation. First, he is not leaving or even seemingly seeking to take a ton of rest before returning to the octagon.

Second, a heavyweight movement to challenge Jon Jones or Tom Asinall for the title of heavy weights UFC is not what is other for the former two-part champion.

Pereira seems to be strongly focused on a match with Ankalaev. Considering that UFC president Dana White told the media that he “for sure” would seek to make an immediate match between Pereira and Ankaaev, there is an excellent chance that we get somewhere later this year.

Ankalaev was courageous during his post -war meeting with the press. He accused Pereira of running for 20 minutes during their 25-minute war.

Both men stayed in a relatively close neighborhood for much of the war, but there is no doubt that Pereira showed respect for the power of Ankalaev in the very discreet, high -interest battle.

Pereira closed every effort for the collection, but his fall was his inability to separate from Ankalaev’s clinics against the cage in the third and fourth rounds. Pereira will have to work in detachment during those sequences and perhaps be a little more offensive in those situations.

The war reminded me of Jose Aldo’s loss to Mario Boutista in October 2024 at UFC 307. Bautista did not do much damage to Aldo, but judges scored rounds for Bautista based on his Brazilian legend against the cage.

If Pereira wants a different result in the match – and Ankalaev proves a similar strategy – the first will have to make the adjustments you mentioned.

If you missed it, here are the results from UFC 313.

Key card

• Lightweight championship period: Magomed Ankalaev Def. Alex Pereira by unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47×2)
• Easy period: Justin Gaetas Def. Rafael Physiev by unanimous decision (29-28×3)
• Easy period: Ignacio Bahammondes def. Jalin Turner through the appearance of the first round (arm triangle)
• Women’s weight period: Amanda Lemos Def. Iasmin Lucindo through unanimous decision (29-28×3)
• Easy period: Mauricio Ruffy Def. King Green through the first round ko

Prior card

• Flight weight period: Joshua van Def. Rei tsuruya through unanimous decision (30-27×3)
• Medium weight period: Brunno Ferreira Def. Armen Petrosyan through the submission of the second round (Bar ARM)
• Good weight period: Carlos Leal Def. Alex Morono through the first round tko

Early preliminary card

• Lightweight weight period: Maairon Santos Def. Marshall Francis by divided decision (29-28×2, 27-30)
• Medium weight period: Ozzy Diaz Def. Dorden Santos by unanimous decision (29-28×3)