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 wasted little time addressing his performance at UFC 313, posting a video message on social media just hours after his title fight against challenger Magomed Ankalaev. Pereira, who suffered a defeat at the hands of the new light-heavyweight champion Ankalaev,