Magomed Ankalaev def. Alex Pereira via UD
Justin Gaethje def. Rafael Fiziev via UD
Ignacio Bahamondes def. Jalin Turner via sub (triangle) (R1, 2:29)
Amanda Lemos def. Iasmin Lucindo via UD (29-28 x3)
Mauricio Ruffy def. King Green via first-round TKO (2:07)
Joshua Van def. Rei Tsuruya via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Brunno Ferreira def. Armen Petrosyan via sub (armbar) (R2, 4:27)
Carlos Leal def. Alex Morono via first-round TKO (4:16)
Mairon Santos def. Francis Marshall via split decision (29-28 x2, 27-30)
Ozzy Diaz def. Djorden Santos via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Main Event: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira
The night’s marquee fight saw Magomed Ankalaev dethrone Alex Pereira to claim the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship via unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47). Pereira, who entered with a 5-0 record at 205 pounds and three straight title defenses in 2024—all by knockout—faced his toughest test yet. Ankalaev, unbeaten in his last 14 UFC fights, used relentless pressure, effective striking, and occasional grappling threats to neutralize Pereira’s feared knockout power. While Pereira landed early calf kicks, Ankalaev’s forward movement and a pivotal left hand in Round 2 shifted the momentum. The fight wasn’t a barnburner—drawing boos from the crowd for its tactical nature—but Ankalaev’s smart game plan earned him the belt, making him the third Dagestani UFC champion after Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev. Pereira, gracious in defeat, vowed to return stronger.
Co-Main Event: Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev
In the co-main event, Justin Gaethje edged out Rafael Fiziev in a thrilling lightweight rematch, winning by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28). Fiziev, stepping in on short notice after Dan Hooker’s withdrawal due to a hand injury, hadn’t fought since September 2023 but brought the heat with body strikes. Gaethje, rebounding from a knockout loss to Max Holloway at UFC 300, relied on his signature aggression and landed devastating uppercuts, including one that dropped Fiziev in Round 2. The three-round war lived up to their 2023 clash (which Gaethje also won), showcasing both fighters’ durability and skill, with Gaethje reasserting himself in the lightweight title picture.
Main Card Highlights
Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Jalin Turner: Bahamondes pulled off a slick first-round submission (triangle choke at 2:29) against Turner. The lanky lightweight initiated a clinch, worked from the bottom, and locked in the choke, extending his win streak to three and boosting his finishing reputation.
Amanda Lemos vs. Iasmin Lucindo: Lemos outlasted the younger Lucindo in an all-Brazilian strawweight bout, winning by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28). Lemos used her experience to control the fight on the ground early, while Lucindo’s late takedown in Round 3 wasn’t enough to sway the judges.
Mauricio Ruffy vs. King Green: Ruffy opened the main card with a bang, landing a first-round spinning wheel kick knockout against Green. The highlight-reel finish, a contender for Knockout of the Year, showcased Ruffy’s striking prowess and handed Green another setback.
Preliminary Card Highlights
Joshua Van vs. Rei Tsuruya: Van dominated Tsuruya in a flyweight clash of prospects, winning by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27). Van’s superior striking and takedown defense handed Tsuruya his first loss, pushing Van’s UFC record to 6-1.
Brunno Ferreira vs. Armen Petrosyan: Ferreira secured a second-round submission (armbar) against Petrosyan, adding another finish to his record in a middleweight scrap.
Carlos Leal vs. Alex Morono: Leal, the night’s biggest betting favorite, overwhelmed Morono with a first-round TKO, showcasing his striking dominance.
Mairon Santos vs. Francis Marshall: Santos edged out Marshall in a competitive featherweight bout via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 27-30).
Ozzy Diaz vs. Djorden Santos: Diaz kicked off the night with a unanimous decision win (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) over Santos in a gritty middleweight fight.
Notable Notes
Two fights—Curtis Blaydes vs. Rizvan Kuniev (heavyweight) and Chris Gutierrez vs. John Castañeda (featherweight)—were scrapped hours before the event due to illnesses, reducing the card to 10 bouts.
During the broadcast, former UFC Welterweight Champion Robbie Lawler was announced as the next inductee into the UFC Hall of Fame’s “Modern Wing” for June 2025.
Final Thoughts
UFC 313 will be remembered for Ankalaev ending Pereira’s reign, Gaethje’s gutsy win, and Ruffy’s jaw-dropping knockout. While the main event lacked the fireworks some expected, the card delivered enough action and storyline shifts to kick off 2025 with a bang. Ankalaev’s victory sets up fresh challenges at 205 pounds, while Gaethje’s resilience keeps him in the lightweight mix. The UFC rolls on with four Fight Nights before UFC 314 on April 12.
