Ankalaev Opens As Betting Favorite Over Pereira In Potential Rematch

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 08: Magomed Ankalaev of Russia reacts after a unanimous-decision victory ... [+] against Alex Pereira of Brazil in the UFC light heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 313 event at T-Mobile Arena on March 08, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)
The UFC 313 main event didn’t deliver much excitement and that seemed to be the plan for Magomed Ankalaev, who left T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night with the UFC light heavyweight title wrapped around his waist. Ankalaev and his team put together a top-notch game plan focused on pressure and forward motion to counter the striking of the feared Alex Pereira. That result was a unanimous decision win for the fighter who many thought would use his wrestling to try to unseat Pereira from the top of the UFC light heavyweight division. Despite the lack of fireworks from the main event, UFC CEO Dana White said an immediate rematch is likely for Ankalaev and Pereira.
“It was not what I expected,” White said of the UFC 313 main event at the post-fight press conference. “I expected a lot more shooting. I expected a lot more exchanges.”
“I don’t know if I had the exact score in my head, but I thought Ankalaev won the fight,” White added. “I wasn’t shocked when I heard the decision.”
When asked if a rematch was in the cards for the top fighters in the UFC’s light heavyweight division, the UFC boss said, “Probably.”
Magomed Ankalaev Vs. Alex Pereira Rematch Opening Odds
With the expectation that Ankalaev and Pereira will tangle again in the near future, BetOnline published opening odds for the rematch. With Ankalaev winning at UFC 313 by scores of 49-47, 48-47, 48-47, it’s no surprise to see Ankalaev installed as the betting favorite at -175, while Pereira opens as the +150 betting underdog. Surprisingly, when the opening odds were published for UFC 313, Ankalaev was a bigger favorite (-200) over Pereira (+170). Those odds had shifted by Saturday night, as Pereira closed as the -120 favorite over the +110 Ankalaev.