Alex Pereira’s reign as light heavyweight king has ended. But not without controversy. At UFC 313, Magomed Ankalaev did what many believed was impossible, he neutralized Pereira’s power and walked away with gold. But did he dominate, or did he survive?

That’s where the debate begins. While some hailed Ankalaev’s game plan as masterful, others, including Pereira himself, saw it differently. Even UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov weighed in, adding fuel to the post-fight discussion.

It didn’t take long for Nurmagomedov to react. The former lightweight champion, known for his relentless grappling and suffocating style, saw a familiar story play out inside the Octagon. He took to social media to congratulate his fellow Dagestani fighter.

‘The Eagle wrote on X, “Congratulations Brother @AnkalaevM you made a history 👏 it was amazing performance against very tough opponent.”

Patience, control, and pressure, the trademarks of the Dagestani MMA style, were on full display. Ankalaev didn’t need to trade bombs with Pereira. Instead, he fought smart, forced the Brazilian into uncomfortable positions, and walked away with UFC gold. The judges scored the bout 49-46, 48-47, and 48-47 for the Dagestani warrior.

But not everyone saw it that way.

The former champion stating during his post-fight interview, “I knew it would be a war. Every fight of mine is a war. He put some pressure in the second round, I felt some of his strikes. But putting me up against the cage, he didn’t really do anything.”

Those last words cut deep. “Didn’t really do anything.”  The Brazilian acknowledged his opponent’s power but dismissed the prolonged clinch work as ineffective. And in some ways, the crowd seemed to agree.

The boos that rained down during Ankalaev’s repeated cage control moments were proof that fans wanted a battle, not a slow grind. In the end, the Brazilian knockout artist, once feared as the king of the light heavyweight division, now finds himself at a crossroads.

Will he reload and seek revenge? Or is it time for something bigger, something beyond the Octagon?

What’s next for Alex Pereira after a stunning loss at UFC 313?

Chael Sonnen saw this coming. Long before Pereira lost his belt, the former UFC fighter turned analyst predicted that UFC 313 would be his last dance at 205 pounds. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Sonnen explained, “If Pereira wins, he’s going to be looking for something else to do, and if Pereira loses he’s gone. I feel like many of you have forgotten how Pereira got to 205 pounds. He did not get to 205 by cleaning out 185. He got to 205 by losing at 185.”

Pereira has always been a nomad in combat sports, moving wherever the biggest challenge awaits. And with Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall tangled in their own heavyweight drama, Sonnen believes the time bomb is now going to explode.

Well, now that he has lost, will he be moving up to heavyweight? Because this is where things get interesting!

One of boxing’s greatest champions, Oleksandr Usyk, has his eyes on Alex Pereira. Fresh off his win over Tyson Fury, Usyk has two fights left before retirement. The first involves the winner of Daniel Dubois vs. Joseph Parker. The second?

In an interview with TNT Sports, Usyk confessed, “Next? Maybe a show fight with Alex Pereira. Maybe – why not? Alex wants to.”

The Brazilian does have an amateur boxing background and even won his lone pro bout by TKO. But stepping into the ring with Usyk? That’s an entirely different beast.

Now, with no belt tying him down, ‘Poatan’ has options. He could chase redemption at 205 lbs. He could move to heavyweight, where a fresh set of killers await. Or he could cross over to boxing for what has the potential to be the biggest payday of his career!

What do you think will be the next move for Alex Pereira? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!