Preview: Light Heavyweight Title Fight, Standout Lightweights Headline UFC 313 on ESPN+
The octagon will return to Las Vegas this weekend as UFC 313 will bring fight fans back to the T-Mobile Arena. Some of the biggest stars in the sport will face off, with UFC gold and top spots in the rankings on the line. This pay-per-view card is sure to excite.
The Light Heavyweight Championship will be up for grabs in a main event between two of the very best and most exciting fighters in the world. Plus, four lightweight contenders will meet in two matchups that are sure to have future title implications.
Lightweight bout: Jalin Turner vs. Ignacio Bahomondes
The UFC’s lightweight division has long been their most talent-rich. That is evidenced by the fact that a fighter as skilled at Jalin Turner has dropped three of his last four fights. Despite that recent skid, Turner sports a 14-8 record with 10 knockouts and four submissions. He’s an incredible athlete who utilizes his extraordinary length to create matchup problems for his opponents. Turner is in desperate need of a win here and that make him as dangerous as ever. Expect him to look for a finish in the fight.
That will be easier said than done of course, as Ignacio Bahamondes will be coming into his 22nd professional fight, having never been knocked out. Bahamondes brings in a 16-5 record with 11 knockouts. He’s an incredibly dangerous striker who finished Christos Giagos and Manuel Torres in his last two fights. Now, he stands to grab a spot in the top 15 in the lightweight division if he can keep rolling against Turner. Either way, this should be a very fun fight to watch.
My pick: Turner via 3rd round submission
Lightweight bout: Justin Gaethje vs. Rafael Fiziev
And speaking of fun fights, they don’t get much more fun than this. Justin Gaethje is known for being in wildly entertaining fights, including his showdowns with Max Holloway, Michael Chandler and, yes, Rafael Fiziev. Gaethje is skilled everywhere the fight can take him but his calling card is throwing caution to the win and giving the fans a show. That has added up to a 25-5 record, 20 knockouts and a reputation as one of the most popular fighters in the sport today. He will be looking to bounce back from a loss to Holloway his last time out, so expect him to push the pace in this one.
Fiziev is taking this fight on short notice after Dan Hooker withdrew. This will end a layoff that has seen him absent from the octagon since September 2023. That followed back to back losses to Gaethje and Mateusz Gamrot, which brought his record to a still impressive 12-3 with eight knockouts. Fiziev has some of the fastest hands in the game and can put anyone to sleep in a blink. He is liable to stand and bang, making hi a perfect opponent for Gaethje. This one has some serious fight of the year potential
My pick: Gaethje via decision
Light Heavyweight Championship bout: Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev
There are few fighters in the history of the UFC who have carried the mystique of Alex Pereira. Georges St. Pierre, Chuck Liddell and Anderson Silva are a few who come to mind. And with every win, it becomes more and more difficult to find a challenger who makes for an interesting fight. Enter: Magamed Ankalaev.
The top contender in the light heavyweight division, Ankalaev comes into this main event with a 19-1 record with 10 knockouts and hasn’t lost since 2018. He has taken out some of the top fighters in the class, including Johnny Walker, Aleksander Rakic and Thiago Santos. He also fought former champ Jan Blachowicz to a draw back in 2022. Ankalaev is a powerful striker who will look to stay at range and pick his opponents apart. It will be interesting to see if he is willing to stick to that type of strategy against Pereira though.
It is probably foolish to expect a knockout for most UFC fights. Unless, of course, that fight features Alex Pereira. In just 10 career UFC fights, the champ has racked up seven knockouts, six of which have come against former champions. It’s baffling to watch because Pereira is certainly not the biggest fighter you’ll see in the octagon and his punches don’t look overly powerful, but as all those former champs have learned, when Alex Pereira touches your chin, you go to sleep. If Ankalaev is willing to stand and trade with Pereira, he will have to make sure he doesn’t get touched, and that is a very tall task.
My pick: Pereira via 2nd round knockout
UFC 313 will be held Saturday, March 8 at 10 PM ET. ESPN+ subscribers can order the pay per view for $79.99.