Magomed Ankalaev dethroned Alex Pereira on Saturday night, taking a unanimous decision to become the new light heavyweight champion in the main event of UFC 313 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The judges scored the bout 49-46, 48-47 and 48-47 for Ankalaev.
Ankalaev (21-1-1) won his 14th striaght fight, while Pereira (12-3), ESPN's No. 2-ranked pound-for-pound fighter, lost his belt after three successful title defenses in 2024.
Ankalaev, known for his background in combat sambo, largely avoided level changes or takedown attempts and tried matching Pereira in the striking game.
Pereira made him pay early on, targeting Ankalaev's lead leg with a series of low kicks in the opening round that had the challenger visibly limping as he walked back to his corner.