‘No Way’ – MMA fans go wild as Alex Pereira and Justin Gaethje next fight announced during UFC 311
Alex Pereira’s next fight has been officially announced.
UFC light heavyweight champion Pereira will fight number one ranked heavyweight Magomed Ankalaev in the main event of UFC 313.
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UFC 311 main card results
UFC 311 was the promotion's first pay-per-view event of 2025
- Islam Makhachev defeated Renato Moicano via submission (D’arce choke) – Round 1
- Merab Dvalishvili def. Umar Nurmagomedov via unanimous decision
- Jiri Prochazka def. Jamahal Hill via TKO (strikes) – Round 3
- Jailton Almeida def. Serghei Spivac via TKO (punches) – Round 1
- Reinier de Ridder def. Kevin Holland via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1
MMA fans went crazy after an official UFC account announced the main event clash in a quickly-deleted post online.
However, the top light heavyweight clash was soon revealed as official during UFC 311’s broadcast.
UFC 313 is scheduled to take place on March 9 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and Pereira was quick to tease his Russian counterpart after the announcement.
"See you soon Ankalaev," he on X, live from the Intuit Dome at UFC 311.
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MMA fans were also rapid with their reactions to the event online.
One took to X and said: "No way."
While another added: "This is going to be wild."
A third said: "If Pereira pulls this off he passes Khabib [Nurmagomedov] in the top 10 of all time.
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And a fourth simple stated "Banger."
Pereira defended his title three times in 2024, knocking out Jamahal Hill, Jiri Prochazka and Khalil Rountree Jr.
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His last octagon appearance was a bloody affair against Rountree Jr, although he eventually got the finish in the fourth round at UFC 307.
MMA’s biggest league also released details on another fan favourite’s next fight in the UFC.
Justin Gaethje will take on Dan Hooker in a lightweight bout in the co-main event of UFC 313.
Gaethje hasn’t fought in the UFC since he was knocked out by Max Holloway at UFC 300.
‘The Highlight’ once challenged UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov for the lightweight belt in October 2020, and has victories over some of the best fighters in the world.
Before losing to Holloway, Gaethje racked up consecutive wins against Dustin Poirier and Rafael Fiziev.
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Both of Pereira's and Gaethje's fights are five-round bouts.
Should Pereira get past Ankalaev at UFC 313, it is likely he will face Prochazka in a trilogy bout.
Prochazka left Rogan speechless after his stunning victory over Hill at UFC 311.
Both men were coming off losses to Pereira leading into bout, but it was the Czech Republic native who eventually got the finish after dropping Hill several times throughout the bout.
Jailton Almeida had just knocked out Serghei Spivac at UFC 311 when UFC commentator, alongside co-commentators Rogan and Daniel Cormier revealed the two headline acts.
Elsewhere at UFC 311, Islam Makhachev cemented his status as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world after his swift submission victory over Renatio Moicano.
Fans react as Alex Pereira supporters interrupt Jamahal Hill answer with 'Chama' chant
Makhachev has now achieved the most UFC lightweight title defences in UFC history, having defended the belt four times in a row.
In the co-main event, Merab Dvalishvili put on a spectacular performance to outpoint Umar Nurmagomedov, who was undefeated in 18 pro MMA fights heading into the bout.
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Nurmagomedov is the cousin of Khabib Nurmagomedov, and although he landed the more damaging strikes during the five rounds, the Dagestani looked absolutely shattered by the end of the fight having been controlled in the later rounds.
Reinier de Ridder submitted Kevin Holland on the main card too, after Raoni Barcelos had picked up a shock victory over rising bantamweight Payton Talbott.
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