Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) had to take the hardest of hard roads to get his chance at gold. Similar to fellow champs Belal Muhammad and Merab Dvalishvili, the long path consisting of a double digit unbeaten streak is what it took for Ankalaev to get his opportunity to challenge Pereira, and he got the job done by unanimous decision.

Alex Pereira didn’t get knocked out by Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313, but there was a funeral feel to the end result. Rock stars are meant to go out with a bang, aren’t they?

New UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev was dismissive of the striking of former champion Alex Pereira following Ankalaev's win in the UFC 313 main event.