For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 313.
Tom Aspinall surprised 'uneducated fans' thought Alex Pereira beat Magomed Ankalaev
Tom Aspinall can't understand how certain people scored the UFC 313 main event in favor of Alex Pereira.
Magomed Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) defeated Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) by unanimous decision to become light heavyweight champion earlier this month at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Media outlets were almost split in their scoring of the fight (h/t MMA Decisions), with nine members awarding Pereira the fight. Interim UFC heavyweight champion Aspinall finds it baffling that anyone could have thought Pereira won.
"I think Ankalaev just had him guessing a lot," Aspinall said in an interview with JNMediaUK. "I think Pereira's level on the ground, I don't know what level he's at, but I think he's still a bit wary of getting taken down. He definitely defended the takedowns well, but me with an educated eye watching it, I don't think Ankalaev was really trying to take him down that much. He definitely tried a couple of times. I think he did 10 or 11 takedown attempts, but I would say only two or three of them he went full blast.
"I think the rest of the time, he was trying to tire him out with the grappling standing, like the cage grappling stuff. I think Ankalaev had the perfect game plan. He didn't overcommit, tired him out. I can't believe people watched that fight and thought that Pereira won. It was just wild to me how many uneducated fans are out there and how many uneducated fans thought it was a boring fight, as well. I thought it was an amazing fight, both guys did good, and I think Ankalaev was just a lot better than him on the night. That's it."
Pereira's loss may have served Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) well as he eagerly waits for his title-unification bout with UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones. However, Aspinall still thinks Pereira could move up to heavyweight down the line.
"He can do whatever he wants, can't he? He's an absolute megastar," Aspinall said of Pereira. "I think there's fights to be made at middleweight, light heavy or heavy for him. He can do whatever he wants."
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This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Tom Aspinall surprised 'uneducated fans' thought Alex Pereira beat Magomed Ankalaev
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Alex Pereira's coaches think he beat Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313, promise 'Poatan 2.0' in rematch
Alex Pereira's coaches disagree with the UFC 313 decision. Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) lost his light heavyweight title to Magomed Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) by unanimous decision in ...Yahoo Sports - 5d -
UFC London: Jan Blachowicz's 'perfect scenario' includes rematching Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira
Jan Blachowicz hopes he can disrupt the UFC's plans of a rematch between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira. Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) defeated Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) by unanimous ...Yahoo Sports - 5d -
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Firas Zahabi: Alex Pereira went through analysis paralysis in UFC 313 title loss
Firas Zahabi thinks Magomed Ankalaev had Alex Pereira overthinking throughout the fight at UFC 313. Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) lost his light heavyweight title to Magomed Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, ...Yahoo Sports - 4d -
Chael Sonnen: 'The narrative that Alex Pereira can’t wrestle is over' after UFC 313
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Ankalaev ends Pereira's UFC reign by decision
Magomed Ankalaev dethroned Alex Pereira on Saturday night, taking a unanimous decision to become the new light heavyweight champion in the main event of UFC 313.ESPN - Mar. 9 -
UFC 313 results: Ankalaev dethrones Pereira, wins by unanimous decision
The UFC's light heavyweight division has a new champion, following Magomed Ankalaev's win over Alex Pereira.ESPN - Mar. 9 -
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