Magomed Ankalaev pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the year by defeating Alex Pereira. ‘Poatan’ was the fan favorite, with the crowd erupting in chants of ‘Chama, Chama’ throughout the stadium. However, he couldn’t secure a victory against Ankalaev. The Russian fighter achieved the biggest win of his UFC career, defeating Pereira to claim the light heavyweight title in the UFC 313 main event. Despite the outcome, both fighters walked away with massive paydays.
According to SportySalaries, newly crowned UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Magomed Ankalaev is set to earn a guaranteed purse of $750,000 for his UFC 313 fight. His total earnings could surpass $1.8 million if pay-per-view sales remain strong. Meanwhile, ‘Poatan’ stands as the highest-paid fighter at UFC 313, with total earnings exceeding $3.5 million. If PPV sales exceed expectations, his total payout could hit the $3.5 million mark.
Other fighters on the card also secured solid paydays. Justin Gaethje walked away with $1.37 million, including a $500,000 base salary, a $50,000 performance bonus, and other incentives. Rafael Fiziev earned $966,000, with a $300,000 base salary, while Jalin Turner received $150,000.
Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev: Round By Round
Pereira started strong, attacking Magomed Ankalaev’s lead leg with powerful kicks, while Ankalaev remained patient, mixing in strikes and takedown attempts. The second round saw Ankalaev apply more pressure, stunning Pereira with a left hand and landing a flurry of strikes. Pereira responded with calf kicks and high kicks, but Ankalaev’s counters kept him on the back foot. In the third round, Pereira looked to regain control, stuffing a takedown and landing a strong right hand, but Ankalaev’s jab and clinch work kept him in the fight.
As the fight entered the later rounds, Ankalaev increased his wrestling, forcing Pereira into defensive mode. The challenger landed key strikes in the clinch while Pereira’s movement slowed. Though Pereira connected with a head kick in the final round, Ankalaev’s consistent pressure and grappling secured him the unanimous decision win. Both fighters have hinted at a rematch, which could take place by the end of the year.
Also Read: “Maybe In The Rematch He Can Fight For Real”: Magomed Ankalaev Fires Back At Alex Pereira’s Doubts
