“Robbed at UFC 313? Alex Pereira’s Team Furious, Promises ‘Poatan 2.0’ Will Destroy Ankalaev!

The main event of UFC 313 ended in controversy as Alex Pereira lost his light heavyweight title to Magomed Ankalaev by unanimous decision at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The decision left many fans, fighters, and analysts questioning the judging criteria, with some believing that Pereira had done enough to retain his belt.

Despite suffering a loss on the scorecards, Pereira’s coaches, Glover Teixeira and Plinio Cruz, strongly disagreed with the result. They argued that Pereira successfully defended all of Ankalaev’s takedown attempts and kept the fight standing, where he had a clear striking advantage.

After the fight, Teixeira shared his thoughts on Pereira’s YouTube channel, making it clear that he believed his fighter deserved the victory.

“We had this defeat, but in my opinion, he won,” Teixeira said. “He lost on points, so now we go back to the drawing board, make some adjustments, train hard, and prepare for the rematch. Poatan has made history before, and he will make history again. He is a great warrior, and I am very proud of him.”

The Road to Redemption: Preparing for Poatan 2.0

With the UFC showing interest in an immediate rematch, Plinio Cruz promised that fans would see a stronger, more dangerous version of Alex Pereira when he steps into the Octagon again.

“Life is full of ups and downs, and those challenges define who we are on this journey,” Cruz said. “We will come back stronger, regroup as a team, and make the necessary adjustments. The energy was great all week. We have no excuses. Poatan was in perfect condition, and I think he won the fight.”

Cruz emphasized that this loss was just a small setback, not a devastating defeat, and that Pereira will use this experience to evolve into an even more dangerous fighter.

“This is not the end. This is just part of the journey. A true champion is the one who stumbles but keeps moving forward. Poatan will reclaim his belt in the rematch, and he will come back as a more aggressive, refined, and powerful version of himself.”

Breaking Down the Fight: Did the Judges Get It Wrong?

The official scorecards gave Ankalaev the victory, but many fighters and analysts criticized the judging. The most debated round was the third, where Pereira landed significant strikes and controlled the pace, while Ankalaev struggled to take the fight to the ground.

Even Israel Adesanya, one of Pereira’s fiercest rivals, was shocked by the decision. In a reaction video, Adesanya expressed disbelief at the 49-46 scorecard, which heavily favored Ankalaev.

Many fans and analysts pointed out that while Ankalaev had a solid game plan, he failed to execute his wrestling strategy, and his striking exchanges were less effective than Pereira’s.

“Did the judges even watch the fight?” one analyst asked. “Pereira defended every takedown, controlled the striking, and still lost? That does not make sense.”

A Familiar Path: Overcoming Adversity

This is not the first time Alex Pereira has faced adversity in his career. He has overcome setbacks before, proving that he has the mental strength and skill set to bounce back stronger.

In November 2022, Pereira stunned the world when he knocked out Israel Adesanya to claim the UFC middleweight title. However, just a few months later, Adesanya got his revenge with a knockout win in their rematch. Instead of being discouraged, Pereira moved up to the light heavyweight division, where he quickly dominated the competition and became the champion once again.

Now, after losing his belt to Ankalaev, Pereira is determined to follow the same path. He knows that he can come back even stronger, just as he did after his first loss to Adesanya.

What to Expect in the Rematch?

If the rematch between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev is booked, fans can expect a dramatic showdown. Both fighters now have a better understanding of each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and both will make significant strategic adjustments.

Pereira’s key focus areas will likely be:

• Striking output: While Pereira controlled the stand-up exchanges in the first fight, he may look to be even more aggressive in the rematch, increasing his volume of punches and kicks.
• Defensive wrestling: Although he successfully defended all of Ankalaev’s takedown attempts, Pereira will likely spend even more time training with elite wrestlers to ensure that he can remain on his feet.
• Cardio and endurance: Five-round fights require exceptional stamina, and Pereira will aim to increase his endurance so that he can maintain pressure in the later rounds.

On the other hand, Ankalaev will likely focus on:

• Improving his takedown setups: Since his wrestling was neutralized, he will need to find new ways to take Pereira to the ground.
• More aggressive control: Ankalaev might push for clutch control and look for opportunities to wear Pereira down against the cage.
• Precision striking: Although his striking was solid, he will need to be more effective in countering Pereira’s dangerous kicks and punches.

The UFC 313 Fallout: What’s Next for the Division?

While the rematch between Pereira and Ankalaev is highly anticipated, the rest of the light heavyweight division continues to evolve.

• Jamahal Hill, the former champion, is waiting for his opportunity to reclaim the belt. He recently called out Ankalaev and Pereira, making it clear that he wants a shot at the winner of their rematch.
• Jan Błachowicz, a former lightweight champion, is also in the mix and could be a potential opponent for either fighter in the future.
• Jiri Prochazka, known for his unorthodox striking, remains a dangerous contender and could also find himself in a title fight soon.

The Final Verdict: A Rivalry That Will Define the Division

The rivalry between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev is far from over. With both fighters determined to prove their dominance, the rematch promises to be an even more intense battle than their first encounter.

For Pereira, this is a chance to silence the critics, reclaim his championship, and solidify his legacy as one of the most feared strikers in UFC history. His coaches are confident that Poatan 2.0 will be an unstoppable force, and if history is any indication, Pereira thrives under pressure.

As the UFC prepares to schedule the highly anticipated rematch, fans around the world are eagerly waiting to see if Alex Pereira can rise again and take back what he believes is rightfully his.