The UFC returns to the T-Mobile Arena on March 8 for the first Las Vegas PPV of 2025 with a familiar face in the main event.
Alex Pereira reached new heights in 2024 as the light heavyweight champion racked up three title defenses in devastating fashion whilst being an incredible asset to the promotion.
However, throughout his show-stealing title reign, there has been one incredibly vocal contender with Magomed Ankalaev repeatedly calling Pereira out.
Ankalaev, in less than ideal circumstances, will finally get his shot at Pereira this Saturday night at UFC 313 and he is confident that he can prove himself to be the best in the world.
Whilst the co-main event may have gone through some changes with Rafael Fiziev stepping in to face Justin Gaethje, the main event has been one of the most highly anticipated matchups for some time.
Alexander Volkanovski predicts Alex Pereira to win via knockout before the championship rounds
In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Alexander Volkanovski gave his thoughts on the fights that are coming up this weekend from the fight capital of the world.
‘The Great’, who is set to return next month in the main event of UFC 314, believes that despite what the challenger has said about his game plan in the build-up, Magomed Ankalaev will look to grapple in this fight.
A lot of predictions have come down to whether or not the challenger will choose to stand and strike with Alex Pereira or not which is a dangerous game that Ankalaev seems willing to play.
Though the Russian would seemingly hold an advantage in the grappling exchanges, he has made a point of stating that he will knock his opponent out on March 8.
With that in mind, the former UFC featherweight champion believes that ‘Poatan’ is simply too powerful and too crafty as he predicted a knockout inside three rounds for the Brazilian.
“[Alex Pereira’s] very dangerous because he puts the pressure on and he can flick stuff out untelegraphed and set things up offensively and then on the counter, very, very, very good on the counter. Hard, hard fight for Ankalaev to stay on the feet. [Ankalaev’s] gonna wanna take it down, he will try and take it down, he might get takedowns.
“I don’t see him being able to submit Pereira unless Pereira gives something up in his process to building up… I’m gonna go with a favorite on this one, Alex Pereira, KO. I’m gonna go with KO/TKO. I think with him, it’s always a pretty safe bet… I don’t think it’s gonna be early rounds. I’m thinking maybe second or third round TKO.”
What’s next for Alexander Volkanovski?
Fight fans won’t have to wait long before it is other people that are giving their picks for an Alexander Volkanovski fight with the former champ being back in action next month.
It has been over a year since he lost the featherweight title to Ilia Topuria at UFC 298 in February but with ‘El Matador’ moving up a weight class before a rematch could take place, ‘The Great’ is moving on.
Volkanovski will now face surging Brazilian Diego Lopes for the interim title in the main event of UFC 314 at the Kaseya Center in Miami on April 12.
Whilst Lopes is riding a five-fight win streak, the 36-year-old veteran will look to bounce back from consecutive knockout losses to retake his place at the top of the division.
