With UFC 313 fast approaching, the spotlight is on the highly anticipated light heavyweight title fight between reigning champion Alex Pereira and top contender Magomed Ankalaev. Fighters and analysts have started weighing in on the matchup, and former featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski recently shared his thoughts and prediction on his YouTube channel.
Volkanovski’s Breakdown: Can Pereira Handle Ankalaev’s
Initially, Volkanovski viewed this as a tough fight for Pereira, especially given Ankalaev’s elite grappling and wrestling. However, after analyzing Pereira’s recent performances, he sees a different picture.
“When I first heard about this fight, I thought it would be a really tough challenge for Pereira,” Volkanovski admitted. “I still believe it’s a difficult matchup, but the more I look into it, the more I see his takedown defense improving.”
Volkanovski pointed to Pereira’s fight against Jan Blachowicz, where the Brazilian successfully defended takedowns and managed to get back to his feet multiple times. While Blachowicz is a strong wrestler, Volkanovski acknowledges that Ankalaev brings a higher level of grappling.
“Ankalaev is a better wrestler and grappler than Blachowicz, no doubt. But Pereira has developed a deeper understanding of takedown defense and ground control. He’s always had great fight IQ, and now he’s more confident in those areas,” Volkanovski added.
Stand-Up Battle: Pereira’s Striking Edge
If the fight remains on the feet, Volkanovski believes Pereira holds a significant advantage over Ankalaev.
“Ankalaev is a fantastic fighter, a dangerous southpaw who does a lot of things well on the feet,” Volkanovski said. “But Pereira is on a whole different level when it comes to striking.”
He also referenced Ankalaev’s previous bout with Blachowicz, where calf kicks severely impacted his movement. According to Volkanovski, Pereira could exploit that same weakness.
“Jan Blachowicz messed up Ankalaev’s lead leg pretty bad. Now imagine Pereira landing those devastating inside leg kicks. That’s a major weapon he can use.”
Alexander Volkanovski’s Official UFC 313 Prediction
After breaking down both fighters’ strengths, Volkanovski is backing the champion to retain his title.
“I’m going with Alex Pereira by knockout. KO or TKO. It’s always a safe bet with him,” he predicted. “I’m thinking second or third round KO—that’s when he’ll find the opening and capitalize.”
With UFC 313 shaping up to be an explosive event, all eyes will be on Pereira vs. Ankalaev to see if Volkanovski’s prediction holds true.
