Alex Pereira’s Pound-for-Pound Ranking In Danger After UFC 313 Loss 

Alex Pereira’s Pound-for-Pound Ranking In Danger After UFC 313 Loss 

Alex Pereira is expected to drop his position in the pound-for-pound rankings list following his recent loss to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313.

As of March 4, 2025, Alex Pereira was ranked as the No. 3 pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC. This ranking was a result of his impressive performances over the previous year, where he successfully defended his light heavyweight title multiple times and showcased his striking prowess against top contenders.

At UFC 313, Pereira faced Magomed Ankalaev in a highly anticipated matchup. Despite starting strong in the first round, Pereira ultimately lost the fight by unanimous decision.

This defeat marks a significant setback for him, especially considering that it was his first loss in the light heavyweight division.

 The loss to Ankalaev is likely to affect Pereira’s standing in the pound-for-pound rankings significantly. Historically, fighters who lose high-profile matches tend to drop in these rankings due to both their performance and the activity level of other fighters within the division.

 Islam Makhachev holds the No. 1 spot in the pound-for-pound rankings after successfully defending his lightweight title against several top-tier opponents, including Alexander Volkanovski and Dustin Poirier. His consistent performance and activity contrast sharply with Pereira’s recent inactivity following this loss. he will likely not feature in the top 5 of the list. 

Given that Pereira has now lost a title fight and considering how active other fighters have been—such as Makhachev and others like Jon Jones—Pereira may fall from his current position as other fighters continue to win and defend their titles. 

Alex Pereira is expected to drop his position in the pound-for-pound rankings list due to his recent loss at UFC 313 against Magomed Ankalaev, which interrupts an otherwise successful run as a champion in two weight classes.