UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira clarifies that he was never ducking Magomed Ankalaev. Ankalaev (20-1-1 MMA, 11-1-1 UFC) has been heavily campaigning to fight Pereira (12-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC), but was passed up for a title fight on several occasions.

Undisputed UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira will return to action at UFC 313 when he takes on Russian contender Magomed Ankalaev on March 8.

Alex Pereira says he wasn’t forced to Magomed Ankalaev, he demanded it. During Saturday’s UFC 311 event, the promotion announced that Pereira would defend his light heavyweight title against Ankalev in the main event of UFC 313 on March 8 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Despite all his posturing, Alex Pereira will in fact next defend his title against Magomed Ankalaev, and it’s official for UFC 313.

Alex Pereira says he requested to fight Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 in March as he wanted to prove he wasn't ducking him.

Alex Pereira will make the fourth defense of his light heavyweight title against top contender Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313 in March.

Ankalaev (19-1-1, 1 NC) is ranked No. 1 in the UFC's official light heavyweight rankings. He's undefeated in his last 13 UFC fights and most recently defeated Aleksandar Rakic. Ankalaev previously fought Jan Blachowicz for the vacant light heavyweight title in 2022, which ended in a split draw.

UFC contender Magomed Ankalaev has issued a warning to UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira ahead of UFC 313.