‘Chama’: Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev share final words before UFC 313 title fight

Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev have nothing left to do but fight.

This Saturday, Pereira puts his light heavyweight title on the line against Ankalaev in a fight nearly two years in the making. “Poatan” has been on a tear through the 205-pound division recently, defending his belt three times in 2024, and now faces arguably his most difficult opponent in the main event of UFC 313.

But at the ceremonial weigh-ins on Friday, Poatan was as focused as ever, attending in his now-traditional ceremonial headdress and delivering a final warning to Ankalaev after their staredown.

“I think this is a great challenge,” Pereira said via a Portuguese translator. “We’re talking about an athlete who has been doing his work, but this is my time. Chama.”

This is Ankalaev’s second attempt to claim the light heavyweight title having previously fought Jan Blachowicz to a draw in their vacant title fight at UFC 282. Nonetheless, Ankalaev was similarly confident, smiling through his weigh-in and faceoff, and sending his own statement of intent for Saturday.

“I feel great,” Ankalaev said through a Russian translator. “I’m going to eat this guy. All of these people that are booing me right now, tomorrow they’re going to love me.”

Things were friendly in the co-main event stare-down between Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev. The two previously fought at UFC 286 where Gaethje won a majority decision victory, and both promised an action-packed rematch.

UFC 313 takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.