UFC 313 witnessed an intense battle between former champion Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev, ending in a unanimous decision win for the latter. However, the result did not go unchallenged, especially after Israel Adesanya’s reaction, as he openly expressed his surprise at what he considered a “wrong call” by the judges.
But did Pereira truly deserve the victory? Or is Adesanya viewing the fight through a personal lens?
Adesanya Defends His Former Rival
Despite the long-standing rivalry between Adesanya and Pereira—marked by multiple losses for the Nigerian star—Adesanya fully supported the Brazilian fighter, stating on his YouTube channel that the decision was “unfair.”
Adesanya said:
“I scored the fight for Pereira. He managed to withstand Ankalaev’s takedown attempts and landed clean strikes. That second round alone should have been enough to turn the tide in his favor.”
But are these arguments strong enough to dispute the judges’ verdict?
Did the Judges Get It Wrong?
Many fans believe the fight was close, but they argue that Ankalaev’s dominant wrestling played a key role in swaying the judges. Adesanya, however, insists that Pereira’s knockdown in Round 2 should have carried more weight in the final decision.
“I need to watch the fight again, but I believe the second round should have been decisive. Pereira managed to drop him, and that’s no small feat.”
A Rematch on the Horizon?
With controversy surrounding the outcome, the most logical scenario appears to be a rematch between Pereira and Ankalaev. Both fighters have already expressed their willingness for an immediate rematch, with Pereira believing he deserves another shot at the title after his impressive victories over top-ranked opponents in less than a year.
Adesanya, who understands Pereira’s impact on UFC’s popularity, believes the organization won’t hesitate to schedule a second fight:
“It was a competitive fight, but a rematch will bring definitive closure. I’m sure UFC will book it soon!”
Conclusion: Does Pereira Deserve Another Chance?
The key question remains: Will Pereira be granted a rematch, or will Ankalaev move forward to defend his title against a new challenger? And to what extent will Adesanya’s remarks fuel this ongoing debate within the MMA community?
What do you think? Was Pereira robbed by the judges, or was Ankalaev the rightful winner?
