All eyes were on Saturday’s UFC 313 main event to see the light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira take on the top contender in the division Magomed Ankalaev.
The fight went the distance and the judges scored Ankalaev the winner via unanimous decision. Pereira’s dominance over the 205-division ended and a new champion was crowned.
Along with the millions of fight fans watching worldwide, interim heavyweight titleholder Tom Aspinall tuned in and provided his realtime reaction to the light heavy heavyweight title changing hands.
“Dana White not looking too happy there if I say so myself. Uncle Dana doesn’t look too happy. Alex Pereira certainly doesn’t look too happy,” Aspinall said on his YouTube channel after the scorecards were read.
“First of all, great fight. Anyone that says it wasn’t doesn’t know MMA. I thought it was an amazing fight,” Aspinall said. “The key to winning for Ankalaev, in my opinion, he wanted it more, pressure; he looked the fresher man, mixing in the takedowns and the striking beautifully. I wasn’t sure if he’d do that, to be honest.”
Related: UFC 313 Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev Official Scorecard
During the UFC 313 Post-Fight Press Conference, UFC CEO Dana White said that Pereira and Ankalaev are likely headed for an immediate rematch and Aspinall agrees if that’s the path the fight promotion takes.
“Alex Pereira’s reign is done for now. In my opinion, immediate rematch. It should be their next (fight),” Aspinall said. “Alex Pereira is a massive, massive, massive star in the sport of MMA. Massive. Lost his title, but the run that he’s been on has warranted an immediate rematch, in my opinion.”
