Alex Pereira, UFC 313 ceremonial weigh-in Credit score: Gabriel Gonzalez/Cageside Press
UFC 313 on Saturday in Las Vegas featured simply 10 fights on its card, splitting the fights evenly between the prelims and principal card.
For these retaining observe, all of UFC 313’s bonuses had been earned on the primary card. The Combat of the Night time got here within the quick discover co-main occasion rematch the place Justin Gaethje triumphed as soon as once more over Rafael Fiziev. And within the final battle of the night time, Alex Pereira misplaced his gentle heavyweight belt to Magomed Ankalaev by unanimous choice.
The primary card had slightly little bit of the whole lot: a conflict, a submission, a retirement, a KO of the 12 months contender and a title altering fingers. Some apparent and a few not so apparent picks on this version of our losers matchmaker piece.
Alex Pereira
Alex Pereira misplaced in his fourth title protection to a grappling-heavy Magomed Ankalaev on Saturday. UFC 313’s principal occasion noticed Pereira defending takedown after takedown, struggling a knockdown and placing up a valiant effort, however in the end, arising quick. Pereira is now 9-2 with the UFC and now not undefeated at 205lbs. Saturday’s title battle was the one that Alex has been in with the UFC that has not ended with a end.
Magomed, who was the #1 ranked gentle heavyweight coming into the bout, is 12-1-1, 1 NC whereas with the promotion. Ankalaev has regarded extremely dominant in opposition to all his opponents not too long ago (outdoors of Jan Blachowicz who took him to a draw). Just about the one battle to make right here barring one thing sudden taking place is to run this one again instantly. I feel this battle left a nasty style within the mouths of plenty of battle followers. With a champion as dominant as Pereira it solely is sensible to run it again particularly with a lot of the division already booked up.
Pereira’s subsequent battle: Magomed Ankalaev rematch
Rafael Fiziev
Rafael Fiziev placed on a wonderful quick discover efficiency however in the end misplaced a unanimous choice to Justin Gaethje within the co-main occasion of UFC 313 Saturday. Followers had not seen Fiziev since February of 2023 when a knee damage triggered a second spherical TKO loss to Mateusz Gamrot.
Fiziev entered the battle ranked at #11 within the light-weight division. Gaethje entered the battle ranked at #3 although he was initially scheduled to tackle the #6 ranked Dan Hooker. The UFC determined to go together with Rafael as their substitute and the Combat of the Night time co-main occasion at UFC 313, was ensuing the outcome.
Fiziev has now misplaced three fights in a row however with an enormous asterisk subsequent to that stat. Two choices in opposition to Gaethje, one on quick discover, after which getting injured in opposition to Gamrot. Now probably in good graces with each the promotional brass and followers, Fiziev ought to anticipate a strong matchup subsequent. Enter Beniel Dariush, who needs to be Rafael Fiziev’s subsequent opponent.
Dariush is one other a kind of fighters within the very deep 155lbs roster that’s typically the odd man out. The #9 ranked light-weight has misplaced his final two fights and didn’t make it out of the primary spherical in both (in opposition to Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan). Beneil was booked to tackle Renato Moicano in January however needed to step apart when Rentao was rebooked for a brief discover title bout.
Fiziev may additionally battle the loser of #12 Paddy Pimblett vs. #7 Michael Chandler. That battle goes down at UFC 314 on April twelfth. Fiziev getting the loser would imply getting a giant title both approach that battle goes. Fiziev wants a win, and he wants it over a reputation with a rating. However most significantly, he wants fights- you need to keep energetic. All three potential opponents current a chance for Fiziev to showcase his harmful placing pedigree.
Fiziev’s subsequent battle: Beneil Dariush or Paddy Pimblett vs. Michael Chandler loser
Jalin Turner
Jalin Turner was rapidly submitted by Ignacio Bahamondes within the first spherical of their bout on Saturday. The surprising end triggered a shocking retirement from an emotional Jalin Turner at simply 29 years outdated.
Turner has now misplaced 4 of his final 5 fights since March of 2023. In that two-year stretch, Turner’s solely victory got here in December of 2023 in opposition to King Inexperienced. Jalin entered Saturday night time’s battle ranked at #13 at light-weight whereas his foe was unranked.
The 2018 Contender Collection alum pulled off a 5-fight win streak from 2020-2022 and regarded extraordinarily promising. If that is it for Turner, it’s been a fantastic profession and he’s accomplished quite a bit in probably the most aggressive division of the game. I feel it’s attainable that Turner may battle once more with the promotion because it appeared like he was extraordinarily emotional when asserting his retirement. At 6’3″, with a 75.5″ attain, possibly Jalin may have a profession resurgence at 170lbs.
Turner competed as soon as at welterweight whereas within the UFC, shedding to Vicente Luque in 2018. It might be a really totally different story if Turner revisited the burden class after taking a brief hiatus from the game to regain his fireplace. For his resurgence at welterweight an opponent like Li Jingliang would make plenty of sense. Li has misplaced three of his final 4 however to names like Khamzat Chimaev, Daniel Rodriguez and Carlos Prates. “The Leech” final fought in August of final yr and would quit some dimension to Turner standing at 6’0 tall with a 72″ attain. Li is at all times in good scraps and has been with the UFC over a decade. At 36 years outdated he’s a harmful however beatable opponent for Jalin. Turner ought to give it yet another shot, and shifting up in weight would give him the perfect alternative to do exactly that.
Turner’s subsequent battle: Retirement or transfer as much as 170lbs. and battle Li Jingliang
Iasmin Lucindo
Iasmin Lucindo turned in a lackluster efficiency Saturday on her technique to a unanimous choice defeat in opposition to Amanda Lemos. It was an enormous alternative for the 23-year-old because it was her first look on a UFC principal card. Sadly, she simply couldn’t put it collectively. Iasmin didn’t appear to have a solution for the veteran Saturday as she misplaced simply the second battle of her UFC profession, snapping a 4 battle win streak.
Lucindo entered the battle ranked at #7, Lemos was ranked at #5 within the girls’s strawweight division.
Iasmin ought to battle Tabatha Ricci in her subsequent bout. Ricci final competed in November when she misplaced in opposition to Xiaonan Yan. An earlier loser’s version had Ricci taking over Marina Rodriguez. However Rodriguez has since been booked to tackle Gillian Robertson on Could third. Ricci can be a fantastic battle for Lucindo as each fighters are at related phases of their UFC careers. Stable prime 10 prospects which have suffered just a few defeats and must get again on observe. Winner of this battle might be taking a look at a giant title within the prime 5-6 in the event that they pull off a flashy end.
Lucindo’s subsequent battle: Tabatha Ricci
King Inexperienced
At UFC 313 on Saturday, King Inexperienced was on the unsuitable aspect of a spotlight reel end courtesy of Mauricio Ruffy. The spinning wheel kick KO was a wild begin to UFC 313’s principal card. Inexperienced has not made it to the ultimate bell in his final 4 losses. Inexperienced turns 39 in September and his 27-fight UFC stint are a mere loss away from the .500 mark. With a brutal stoppage like that, King, undoubtedly will want time to get better. When Inexperienced returns, revisiting the Jared Gordon matchup might be intriguing.
Inexperienced fought Gordon in April of 2023. However the battle resulted in a no contest within the first spherical after an unintentional conflict of heads. It’s the one no contest Inexperienced has ever had in his skilled MMA profession. Inexperienced’s solely different considerably unresolved bout was a cut up draw to Lando Vannata in 2017. Inexperienced defeated Vannata by unaimous choice in 2020, when the 2 lastly ran that battle again. Each of these bouts ended up successful battle of the night time honors as nicely.
Gordon is 1-1 since preventing Inexperienced. In November of 2023, Jared stopped (and retired) Mark Madsen within the first spherical earlier than dropping a cut up choice to Nasrat Haqparast final June. Gordon has had three bouts canceled within the practically two years since he’s fought King. With one of many cancelled bouts being reverse of Inexperienced’s solely win within the final 4 bouts (Jim Miller). UFC ought to run this one again for some assured motion between two fighters at across the identical spot of their careers with the promotion. Whoever loses, particularly if its ugly, might be a loss away from being lower with how crowded and aggressive the division is.
Inexperienced’s subsequent battle: Jared Gordon Rematch
