Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev — Fight recap

Magomed Ankalaev defeated Alex Pereira by unanimous decision over five rounds on March 8, 2025, in a striking-heavy matchup that saw both fighters land significant volume but Ankalaev edge the exchanges. Pereira connected on 76 of 137 significant strikes (55%) while Ankalaev landed 94 of 180 (52%), with the Russian notably more accurate on leg kicks, converting 28 of 29 attempts compared to Pereira's 48 of 55.

Neither fighter attempted takedowns with success—Ankalaev went 0 for 12 from the mat while Pereira failed his only shot—but Ankalaev controlled five minutes and 42 seconds of cage time to Pereira's zero, a critical differential on the scorecards. The fight remained a pure striking affair with Ankalaev's superior output and control time proving decisive across all three judges' cards.

The loss marks a significant setback for Pereira's light heavyweight title aspirations and solidifies Ankalaev's position among the division's elite contenders.