Magomed Ankalaev Claims UFC Gold After Years of Struggle: The New Light Heavyweight King

The moment has finally arrived. After years of setbacks, controversial decisions, and being overlooked, Magomed Ankalaev can now call himself a UFC champion.

When the final bell rang at UFC 313 in Las Vegas on Saturday night, there was no controversy this time. No split decision. No draw. Just the undeniable reality that Ankalaev had dominated UFC’s double-champ Alex Pereira to claim the light heavyweight crown.

The Long Road to Gold

I’ve covered Ankalaev’s career since his UFC debut, and let me tell you – this victory was years in the making. Remember that heartbreaking submission loss to Paul Craig with one second left in his debut fight? Or the controversial draw against Jan Blachowicz when many thought he had done enough to win the vacant title?

Those moments would have broken lesser fighters. But Ankalaev isn’t your average competitor.

“I always knew this day would come,” Ankalaev said through his translator during the post-fight interview. “When nobody believed in me, I believed in myself.”

How Ankalaev Dismantled Pereira

Against one of the most feared strikers in UFC history, Ankalaev executed perhaps the most technically sound gameplan we’ve seen in a title fight this year:

• Neutralized Pereira’s feared left hook with perfect distance management
• Utilized superior wrestling to control the pace of the fight
• Landed devastating counter strikes when Pereira pressed forward
• Maintained composure even when caught with shots in round 3

Insert image of Ankalaev landing a counter right hand on Pereira here

Fight Statistics That Tell The Story

What This Means For The Division

The light heavyweight division has a new sheriff in town, and he might be the most complete fighter the weight class has seen since Jon Jones. With his combination of technical striking, wrestling, and fight IQ, Ankalaev presents a nightmare matchup for anyone at 205 pounds.

Potential challengers already lining up include:

• Jamahal Hill (former champ who never lost his belt in the octagon)
• Jiri Prochazka (looking to reclaim what he once held)
• Jan Blachowicz (seeking to settle the score after their controversial draw)

The Dagestani Takeover Continues

Ankalaev joins fellow Dagestanis Islam Makhachev and Usman Nurmagomedov as current champions in major MMA organizations. This region continues to produce fighters with seemingly unmatched skill sets, combining wrestling prowess with increasingly dangerous striking.

“We are born into struggle,” Ankalaev said of his homeland. “Fighting is in our blood. Now the world sees what we are capable of.”

From Doubt To Dominance

You might remember that after the Blachowicz fight, UFC President Dana White seemed hesitant about Ankalaev’s marketability, even suggesting he might need several more wins before another title shot. How quickly things change in this sport.

After Saturday’s performance, even White had to acknowledge the Russian’s brilliance.

“He fought a perfect fight against one of the scariest guys we’ve ever had in the UFC,” White said at the post-fight press conference. “No one has shut down Pereira like that. Not even Adesanya.”

What’s Next For Pereira?

This marks the first definitive loss for Pereira in the UFC, but hardly diminishes his remarkable accomplishments. The Brazilian striker had been on an incredible run, capturing titles in two weight classes in record time.

Will he return to middleweight? Seek an immediate rematch? These questions remain unanswered, but one thing is certain – we haven’t seen the last of “Poatan” in championship fights.

The Champion’s Message

In his post-fight speech, Ankalaev delivered a message to those who had doubted him throughout his journey:

“I want to thank everyone who believed in me and also those who didn’t. The doubters pushed me to work harder every day. This belt isn’t just for me – it’s for my family, my team, and my country.”

A New Era Begins

As the UFC light heavyweight division enters the Ankalaev era, fans can expect technical brilliance rather than wild brawls. His calculated approach may not always produce highlight-reel knockouts, but his dominance cannot be questioned.

For a division that has seen legends like Jones, Cormier, and Teixeira, Ankalaev represents the next evolution – a fighter with virtually no weaknesses who appears ready for a long reign at the top.

The question now isn’t if Ankalaev belongs among the UFC champions – it’s how long he’ll stay there, and whether anyone in the division has the tools to dethrone him.

What do you think about Ankalaev’s performance? Is he the most complete light heavyweight champion we’ve seen in years? Let us know in the comments below!

Source: UFC 313 Official Results, Las Vegas, October 2023