UFC 313 Main Card Results: Pereira vs. Ankalaev Delivers Knockout Drama and Title Implications

Breaking Down the Fights, Highlights, and What’s Next After a Historic Night in Las Vegas

The UFC 313 main card, headlined by the explosive light heavyweight showdown between **Alex Pereira** and **Magomed Ankalaev**, lived up to its sky-high expectations. Held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the event delivered jaw-dropping finishes, tactical masterclasses, and pivotal shifts in multiple divisions. Here’s a full breakdown of the main card results, standout moments, and what these outcomes mean for the future of the UFC.

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###**Main Event: Pereira’s Power Prevails in Thrilling Title Defense**

Alex Pereira (10-2) silenced doubters with a brutal second-round knockout of Magomed Ankalaev (18-2-1), retaining his UFC light heavyweight championship in dramatic fashion. Ankalaev started strong, utilizing his grappling to control Pereira in Round 1. However, “Poatan” showcased his trademark precision in Round 2, landing a crushing left hook that sent Ankalaev crashing to the canvas.

**Post-Fight Buzz:**

Pereira called for a move to heavyweight next, teasing a potential superfight with Tom Aspinall. Meanwhile, Ankalaev’s camp hinted at a rematch, citing his early dominance.

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### **Co-Main Event: Rodriguez Edges Out Sterling in Bantamweight Barnburner**

In a Fight of the Night contender, **Yair Rodriguez** (17-4) narrowly defeated **Aljamain Sterling** (23-5) via split decision (48-47, 47-48, 49-46). Rodriguez’s unorthodox striking and relentless pace overwhelmed Sterling early, but the former champ rallied with takedowns and ground control in later rounds. The controversial decision sparked immediate calls for a rematch.

**Key Takeaway:**

With this win, Rodriguez positions himself as a top contender for Sean O’Malley’s bantamweight title.

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### **Rising Star Alert: Bo Nickal Submits Brundage in Under a Minute**

Undefeated phenom **Bo Nickal** (6-0) continued his meteoric rise, submitting **Cody Brundage** (10-6) via rear-naked choke in just 54 seconds. Nickal’s wrestling pedigree and slick transitions left Brundage no room to breathe.

**What’s Next? **

Dana White hinted at a ranked opponent for Nickal, possibly Anthony Hernandez or Nassourdine Imavov.

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### **Women’s Strawweight Shocker: Dern Upsets Yan via Submission**

**Mackenzie Dern** (14-4) pulled off a massive upset, tapping out **Xiaonan Yan** (18-4) with a third-round armbar. Yan dominated the striking exchanges, but Dern’s relentless grappling earned her a comeback victory.

**Implications:**

Dern leaps into title contention, while Yan’s path to a rematch with Zhang Weili grows murkier.

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### **Prelim Highlight: Turner’s Head Kick KO Goes Viral**

**Jalin Turner** (14-7) stole the prelims with a vicious first-round head kick knockout of **Renato Moicano** (18-6-1). The lightweight bout lasted just 2:21 but left fans buzzing.

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### **Key Takeaways from UFC 313**

1. **Pereira’s Legacy Grows:** His knockout power transcends weight classes.

2. **Bantamweight Chaos:** Rodriguez vs. Sterling 2 could headline a future PPV.

3. **Nickal’s Hype Train:** The middleweight division has a new problem.

4. **Grappling Wins:** Dern’s victory reinforces the importance of elite BJJ in MMA.

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### **What’s Next for the Winners? **

- **Pereira:** Heavyweight superfight or Ankalaev rematch?

- **Rodriguez:** Title shot against Sean O’Malley.

- **Nickal:** Top-15 opponent by year’s end.

- **Dern:** Clash with Tatiana Suarez or Rose Namajunas.

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**Final Thoughts**

UFC 313 solidified Alex Pereira as one of the sport’s most thrilling champions while injecting fresh drama into multiple divisions. With title pictures reshaped and new stars emerging, the MMA world will feel the ripple effects of this event for months.

**Meta Description:**

Get the full UFC 313 main card results, including Pereira vs. Ankalaev knockout highlights, Rodriguez’s split-decision win, Bo Nickal’s submission, and analysis of what’s next for the stars.