UFC 313 Preview And Predictions

UFC 313 Preview And Predictions

UFC 313 is an outstanding pay-per-view event. Alex Pereira, one of the biggest stars in the sport, sits atop the bill in a light heavyweight t title fight between Magomed Ankalaev. The co-main event puts two of the most exciting lightweights on the planet against one another. That remainder of the card is rounded out with solid fights as well.

Join Vendetta Sports Media as we preview and predict the main card. You can find our prediction records below.

James: 17-18-1

Garrett: 18-17-1

Anthony: 19-16-1

King Green vs. Mauricio Ruffy- Lightweight Bout

James: The UFC 313 main card opens with a lightweight bout between King Green and Mauricio Ruffy. Green is a veteran with a 32-16-1 professional record and a 13-11-1 UFC record. At 38 years old, he has shown signs of aging; however, he is still picking up victories in the UFC as he sits at 3-2 in his last five fights. Since being signed off Dana White’s Contender Series Ruffy has a 2-0 UFC record. The 28-year-old prospect has also gained a lot of recognition for being a part of The Fighting Nerds. That hype has mixed with his impressive performances to push him up the lightweight latter and get him on a pay-per-view against Green. 

Green has an unorthodox fighting style. This is because of his speed, head movement, and footwork. This allows him to fight with his hands down because his defense relies on getting out of range or slipping shots with his head movement. This provides him with ample opportunities to counter and allows him to throw strikes from unique angles. The biggest issue is that he has shown a massive drop in durability. 

Ruffy is a dangerous striker from a distance. His straight is a dangerous weapon that can be landed while moving forward, but he can also land it as a counter. In addition, he has a dangerous kicking game that adds another layer to his striking. 

This UFC 313 preview favors Ruffy. That is largely because of his power and Green’s durability concerns. It is unlikely it takes much for Ruffy to shut off Green’s lights. The hope for Green is that he can push the pace in the late rounds. That requires him to survive the early rounds, however. That is a lot to ask. I will take Ruffy by first-round knockout.  

Garrett: Ruffy via KO

Anthony: Ruffy via KO/TKO

No. 5 Amanda Lemos vs. No. 7 Iasmin Lucindo- Women’s Strawweight Bout

James: The UFC 313 main card features a women’s strawweight bout between Amanda Lemos and Iasmin Lucindo. Lemos has established herself as one of the most dangerous and fan-friendly women on the UFC roster. Although, she is coming off a loss and is being forced to take on a rising prospect. Lucindo, 23, is 4-1 on the UFC. The sole loss of her tenure came in her UFC debut. The more impressive aspect is that she has quickly climbed the strawweight rankings and has earned herself a top-five opponent. 

Lemos is one of the most potent finishers in the strawweight division. Despite not having the most technical approach, she has insane power and a few great submissions. If she connects with a straight or counter, there is a chance he can finish the fight. In the grappling realm, she has shown ridiculous grip strength which helps her finish submission. It also allows her to aggressively hunt submissions because he strength helps her put opponents in danger. 

Lucindo has a well-rounded skill set. It is impressive considering her age. In striking exchanges, she has shown solid speed and throws in combinations. This is paired with good takedowns. In the top position, she is capable of throwing strikes or looking for submissions. 

This UFC 313 bout previews as a close fight. Lucindo can land takedowns and spend time in the top position. That is assuming she can use her BJJ skills to defend Lemos’ submission attempts. At the same time, if there are a lot of striking exchanges, Lemos will likely land big shots that hurt Lucindo. I will lean toward Lucindo because she is far younger and should be able to endure damage better than most of the fighters Lemos has beaten. I am also expecting her to have a responsible game plan centered around offensive grappling. The pick is Lucindo by decision. 

Garrett: Lucindo via decision

Anthony: Lucindo via decision

UFC 313 Best Bets

No. 13 Jalin Turner vs. Ignacio Bahamondes- Lightweight Bout 

James: At UFC 313, Jalin Turner will fight Igancio Bahamondes. Turner is looking to prove that he still deserves a spot in the lightweight rankings after going on a 1-3 run against ranked opposition. In fairness, two of those losses were close split decisions; however, that still puts him in a position to have to fight an unranked opponent. Bahamondes is the fighter being given the opportunity. The 27-year-old is an intriguing prospect with a 5-2 UFC record. In his most recent performance, he looked sensational as he picked up a first-round knockout victory at The Las Vegas Sphere during Noche UFC. 

Turner is a massive lightweight. At six-foot-three, he has a 75-inch reach. That style gives him a lot of weapons from range. That includes straight punches and a solid toolbox of kicks. He can use those weapons to pick at opponents from range, but he usually opts to throw with knockout intentions. That makes sense considering he has ridiculous power. His overall finish abilities are increased with a solid front choke series that allows him to finish opponents. 

Bahamondes is one of the few fighters who can match Turner’s physical stature. The pair have identical height and reach. As a result, the pair have a lot of skill crossover. Bahamondes will also attack fighters from range. The difference is that he will work harder to establish his jab and teep. Still, he can land knockouts with straight punches and head kicks. 

This UFC 313 bout previews as a highly competitive fight. Both fighters have similar skill sets. The similarities in length and striking approach are potent. In addition, both fighters are highly dangerous while on offense, but both have questionable defense. I would not label their defense as tragic; however, a small concern become serious considering the striking firepower on hand. That said, I prefer to side with Turner when it comes time to make a prediction. I think his power, speed, and athleticism advantage will help him be the fighter who lands big strikes first. I will take Turner by first-round knockout. 

Garrett: Bahamondes via TKO

Anthony: Bahamondes via KO/TKO

No. 3 Justin Gaethje vs. No. 11 Rafael Fiziev- Lightweight Rematch

James: The UFC 313 co-main event is a lightweight bout between Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev. This bout came together on short notice after Dan Hooker, Gaethje’s original opponent, was forced to pull out of the fight. This fight will be a rematch from a 2023 bout. In the first outing, Gaethje won a razor-thin decision. Now, the pair run it back with serious implications. Gaethje, 36, is returning to the octagon for the first time since getting knocked out against Max Holloway. Meanwhile, Fiziev suffered an ACL tear against Mateusz Gamrot in his last outing. This fight is crucial for both fighters as they attempt to establish momentum in the ever-changing lightweight division. 

Gaethje started his career as a brawler and has slowly become more technical throughout his career. At this point, he has a mix of both abilities. He can fight with high volume, get in his opponent’s face, throw heavy strikes, and push the pace. At the same time, he has become better at managing range and dictating when exchanges occur. Plus, his boxing has been more thoughtful as he attempts to find holes in his opponent’s striking. All of that boxing prowess is backed with damaging leg kicks that slow his opponents down. 

Fiziev is a lightning-quick striker with a ton of impressive tools. In the pocket, he combines his speed with intelligent reads to land at an impressive clip. Historically, he has been willing to sit in the pocket and trade with opponents. On the outside, his kicks have a similar effect. He attacks all three with powerful quicks that do serious damage. At his best, he can mix his kicks and hands to pour on damage.

This UFC 313 preview relies on each fighter’s fighting skills in addition to their comebacks. In the skills, this fight should look similar to their first matchup. In that fight, the boxing exchanges were close. The biggest factor for Fiziev was his ability to counter leg kicks. That helped him land while dissuading Gaethje from throwing the weapon. Meanwhile, Gaethje found a lot of success when he established his jab. 

Ultimately, this fight depends on who can bounce back from their career-altering ailments. It is hard to be confident in either, but I have more faith in a fighter coming back from an ACL tear than a fighter returning from one of the most brutal knockouts in UFC history. It also helps that Fiziev is 32 while Gaethje is 37. I will take Fiziev by decision. 

Garrett: Fiziev via TKO

Anthony: Gaethje via decision

Justin Gaethje: I Don’t Plan To Be Alive The Day After My Fights

(C) Alex Pereira vs. No. 1 Magomed Ankalaev- Light Heavyweight Title Fight 

James: The UFC 313 main event features a light heavyweight title fight between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev. Pereira is carving out an impressive legacy in the UFC light heavyweight division. Despite his short tenure in the weight class, he has a 5-0 record with three title defenses. Not to mention, he once held the middleweight title. Ankalaev deserves the opportunity to fight for the title. In his UFC tenure, he holds a 10-1-1 record with one no-contest. Meanwhile, the matchup gives Pereira a new opponent with a completely different style than previous matchups.  

Pereira is a former kickboxer with lethal power. The power of his striking is the most important aspect of his game. It allows him to finish fighters with one shot, but he can also damage the opponent before landing the finish in the later rounds. In addition, his power tends to make his opponents cautious. This power is present alongside a functional strategic approach that allows him to land strikes. The best weapons in his game are his lead hook and leg kicks. If he lands leg kicks, his opponents become immobilized and he can attack with heavy strikes. Additionally, he lands his left hand as a counter. If a fight is close, he can pick at opponents from a distance with jabs and teeps. The downsides in Pereira’s game all come on the defensive side of the equation. In the striking realm, he can be hit. That is largely because he is an offensively minded fighter with low hands and a suspect chin. The more concerning aspect is that he has shown minimal defensive grappling skills. 

Ankalaev is a well-rounded fighter with grappling and wrestling skills. On the feet, he is a southpaw who works to land his left hand. He also throws straight shots to the body and has a functional kicking game. If he opts to wrestle, he can land takedowns and establish a top position. In a worst-case scenario, he can get to the clinch while working for throws. The biggest issue for Ankalaev is that he has terrible game planning. In every fight, take the path of the most resistance. In a way that is impressive because he finds a way to win. That is a concern in this specific matchup. Similarly, he does not defend leg kicks well which is a red flag against Pereira. 

The UFC 313 main event is a tough fight to confidently preview. A lot of this bout depends on Ankalaev’s willingness to grapple. If he waits to grapple, Pereira can get his striking game going. At a minimum, he will chew up Ankalaev’s leg. At his best, he can land the knockout. If Ankalaev grapples in the opening rounds, he could win rounds with control time and potentially create damage. If he can establish a grappling pace, it could tax Pereira’s arms and reduce his power. That opens a serious door to finding success. 

I will lean toward Ankalaev. He should grapple. I do not trust his game plan, but this fight is simple. He needs to grapple early and often. If he does that, he should have serious success. I will take Ankalaev by third-round submission. 

Garrett: Pereira via TKO

Anthony: Pereira via KO/TKO

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