Tom Aspinall defends Alex Pereira amid criticism, is this a signal Tom Aspinall is sending to his opponents?

At UFC 313, Magomed Ankalaev put on a dominant performance, defeating Alex Pereira in the main event. Before this highly anticipated fight, Pereira had hinted at a possible move to heavyweight, sparking discussions about a future showdown with Jon Jones. Many fans were excited about the idea of Pereira challenging for another title in a third-weight class. However, Ankalaev’s victory may have completely shut down that possibility.

With the win, Ankalaev not only ended Pereira’s five-fight winning streak at light heavyweight but also indirectly helped Tom Aspinall clear any potential roadblocks in his pursuit of a title unification bout with Jones. Had Pereira won, it could have caused chaos in the division, potentially altering the title picture in multiple weight classes.

Tom Aspinall Cannot Believe Fans Thought Pereira Won

Despite Ankalaev’s clear control throughout the five-round fight, there was a wave of controversy regarding the decision. Some fans and analysts argued that Pereira had done enough to win. However, Tom Aspinall was completely baffled by those opinions.

“I cannot believe people watched that fight and thought that Pereira won. It is just wild to me how many uneducated fans are out there,” Aspinall said in an interview with JNMediaUK.

Aspinall also criticized those who found the fight boring. For him, the bout was a perfect display of technical mastery, game planning, and execution. He acknowledged that both fighters had strong moments, but in his eyes, Ankalaev was simply the better fighter on the night.

Ankalaev’s Brilliant Strategy: Shut Down Pereira

While Magomed Ankalaev did not secure a finish, he executed a masterful strategy that neutralized Pereira’s offense. From the opening round, Ankalaev applied relentless pressure, constantly moving forward and forcing Pereira onto the back foot.

One of the key elements of Ankalaev’s success was his ability to mix striking and grappling seamlessly. Even though he did not secure many takedowns, his persistent attempts kept Pereira guessing and prevented him from settling into his usual striking rhythm.

“I think Ankalaev just had him guessing a lot,” Aspinall explained. “Pereira was always worried about the takedown. He defended well, but from an educated perspective, I do not think Ankalaev was fully committed to taking him down all the time. He was more focused on tiring him out.”

According to Aspinall, Ankalaev executed approximately 10 or 11 takedown attempts, but only fully committed to two or three of them. The rest were designed to drain Pereira’s energy and keep him off balance.

This strategy worked to perfection, as Pereira struggled to land his devastating counterstrikes and appeared visibly fatigued in the later rounds. Ankalaev controlled the pace, dictated the exchanges, and ultimately secured a decisive victory on the judges’ scorecards.

Pereira’s Heavyweight Aspirations Take a Hit

This loss was a major setback for Alex Pereira, as it halted his momentum and raised serious questions about his ability to compete in multiple weight classes. Before the fight, many speculated that a win over Magomed Ankalaev would pave the way for Pereira to move up and challenge for the UFC heavyweight championship.

With his loss, that plan seems unlikely. Instead of looking ahead to a possible super fight with Jon Jones, Pereira now faces the challenge of rebuilding his status at light heavyweight. The defeat also ended his streak of title defenses, leaving the division in a much more open state.

Despite this setback, Tom Aspinall still respects Pereira’s achievements and believes he remains one of the most dangerous fighters in the UFC.

“He can do whatever he wants. He is an absolute megastar,” Aspinall said. “There are big fights for him at middleweight, light heavyweight, or even heavyweight. He has options.”

However, after the loss, it is clear that Pereira’s chances at heavyweight are far from guaranteed. If he does eventually move up, he will need to prove that he can handle the size and wrestling of elite heavyweights—something Ankalaev exposed as a weakness in this fight.

Tom Aspinall Focused Solely on the UFC Heavyweight Title

For Tom Aspinall, all of these developments in the light heavyweight division are secondary. His only goal remains the UFC undisputed heavyweight title. He has made it clear that he is not concerned with potential fights against Alex Pereira, Magomed Ankalaev, or anyone else—his only focus is Jon Jones and the real championship belt.

“I just want to fight for an undisputed title. I do not care who it is against,” Aspinall stated firmly.

With Jon Jones still recovering from injury, there is no official timeline for the title unification fight between Jones and Aspinall. However, with Ankalaev’s victory over Pereira, the possibility of Pereira cutting the line for a title shot at heavyweight has been erased—something that likely works in Aspinall’s favor.

As the heavyweight division continues to take shape, Tom Aspinall is patiently waiting for his moment. Whether it is Jon Jones or another challenger, one thing is clear: Aspinall is ready to prove that he is the true king of the division.

Will Aspinall get his shot at the undisputed title soon? Or will another contender rise and shake up the division once again? The heavyweight title picture remains uncertain, but Aspinall is not backing down from his quest to cement his place in history.