UFC 313 on Saturday in Las Vegas featured just 10 fights on its card, splitting the fights evenly between the prelims and main card.
For those keeping track, all of UFC 313’s bonuses were earned on the main card. The Fight of the Night came in the short notice co-main event rematch where Justin Gaethje triumphed once again over Rafael Fiziev. And in the last fight of the night, Alex Pereira lost his light heavyweight belt to Magomed Ankalaev by unanimous decision.
The main card had a little bit of everything: a war, a submission, a retirement, a KO of the Year contender and a title changing hands. Some obvious and some not so obvious picks on this edition of our losers matchmaker piece.
Alex Pereira
Alex Pereira lost in his fourth title defense to a grappling-heavy Magomed Ankalaev on Saturday. UFC 313’s main event saw Pereira defending takedown after takedown, suffering a knockdown and putting up a valiant effort, but ultimately, coming up short. Pereira is now 9-2 with the UFC and no longer undefeated at 205lbs. Saturday’s title fight was the only that Alex has been in with the UFC that has not ended with a finish.
Magomed, who was the #1 ranked light heavyweight coming into the bout, is 12-1-1, 1 NC while with the promotion. Ankalaev has looked incredibly dominant against all his opponents recently (outside of Jan Blachowicz who took him to a draw). Pretty much the only fight to make here barring something unexpected happening is to run this one back immediately. I think this fight left a bad taste in the mouths of a lot of fight fans. With a champion as dominant as Pereira it only makes sense to run it back especially with most of the division already booked up.
Pereira’s next fight: Magomed Ankalaev rematch
Rafael Fiziev
Rafael Fiziev put on an excellent short notice performance but ultimately lost a unanimous decision to Justin Gaethje in the co-main event of UFC 313 Saturday. Fans had not seen Fiziev since February of 2023 when a knee injury triggered a second round TKO loss to Mateusz Gamrot.
Fiziev entered the fight ranked at #11 in the lightweight division. Gaethje entered the fight ranked at #3 though he was originally scheduled to take on the #6 ranked Dan Hooker. The UFC decided to go with Rafael as their replacement and the Fight of the Night co-main event at UFC 313, was ensuing the result.
Fiziev has now lost three fights in a row but with a huge asterisk next to that stat. Two decisions against Gaethje, one on short notice, and then getting injured against Gamrot. Now likely in good graces with both the promotional brass and fans, Fiziev should expect a solid matchup next. Enter Beniel Dariush, who should be Rafael Fiziev’s next opponent.
Dariush is another one of those fighters in the very deep 155lbs roster that is often the odd man out. The #9 ranked lightweight has lost his last two fights and didn’t make it out of the first round in either (against Charles Oliveira and Arman Tsarukyan). Beneil was booked to take on Renato Moicano in January but had to step aside when Rentao was rebooked for a short notice title bout.
Fiziev could also fight the loser of #12 Paddy Pimblett vs. #7 Michael Chandler. That fight goes down at UFC 314 on April 12th. Fiziev getting the loser would mean getting a big name either way that fight goes. Fiziev needs a win, and he needs it over a name with a ranking. But most importantly, he needs fights- you have to stay active. All three potential opponents present an opportunity for Fiziev to showcase his dangerous striking pedigree.
Fiziev’s next fight: Beneil Dariush or Paddy Pimblett vs. Michael Chandler loser
Jalin Turner
Jalin Turner was quickly submitted by Ignacio Bahamondes in the first round of their bout on Saturday. The shocking finish triggered a surprising retirement from an emotional Jalin Turner at just 29 years old.
Turner has now lost four of his last five fights since March of 2023. In that two-year stretch, Turner’s only victory came in December of 2023 against King Green. Jalin entered Saturday night’s fight ranked at #13 at lightweight while his foe was unranked.
The 2018 Contender Series alum pulled off a 5-fight win streak from 2020-2022 and looked extremely promising. If this is it for Turner, it’s been a great career and he’s done a lot in the most competitive division of the sport. I think it’s possible that Turner could fight again with the promotion as it seemed like he was extremely emotional when announcing his retirement. At 6’3″, with a 75.5″ reach, maybe Jalin could have a career resurgence at 170lbs.
Turner competed once at welterweight while in the UFC, losing to Vicente Luque in 2018. It could be a very different story if Turner revisited the weight class after taking a short hiatus from the sport to regain his fire. For his resurgence at welterweight an opponent like Li Jingliang would make a lot of sense. Li has lost three of his last four but to names like Khamzat Chimaev, Daniel Rodriguez and Carlos Prates. “The Leech” last fought in August of last year and would give up some size to Turner standing at 6’0 tall with a 72″ reach. Li is always in good scraps and has been with the UFC over a decade. At 36 years old he is a dangerous but beatable opponent for Jalin. Turner should give it one more shot, and moving up in weight would give him the best opportunity to do just that.
Turner’s next fight: Retirement or move up to 170lbs. and fight Li Jingliang
Iasmin Lucindo
Iasmin Lucindo turned in a lackluster performance Saturday on her way to a unanimous decision defeat against Amanda Lemos. It was a huge opportunity for the 23-year-old as it was her first appearance on a UFC main card. Unfortunately, she just couldn’t put it together. Iasmin didn’t seem to have an answer for the veteran Saturday as she lost just the second fight of her UFC career, snapping a four fight win streak.
Lucindo entered the fight ranked at #7, Lemos was ranked at #5 in the women’s strawweight division.
Iasmin should fight Tabatha Ricci in her next bout. Ricci last competed in November when she lost against Xiaonan Yan. An earlier loser’s edition had Ricci taking on Marina Rodriguez. But Rodriguez has since been booked to take on Gillian Robertson on May 3rd. Ricci would be a great fight for Lucindo as both fighters are at similar stages in their UFC careers. Solid top 10 prospects that have suffered a few defeats and need to get back on track. Winner of this fight could be looking at a big name in the top 5-6 if they pull off a flashy finish.
Lucindo’s next fight: Tabatha Ricci
King Green
At UFC 313 on Saturday, King Green was on the wrong side of a highlight reel finish courtesy of Mauricio Ruffy. The spinning wheel kick KO was a wild start to UFC 313’s main card. Green has not made it to the final bell in his last four losses. Green turns 39 in September and his 27-fight UFC stint are a mere loss away from the .500 mark. With a brutal stoppage like that, King, undoubtedly will need time to recover. When Green returns, revisiting the Jared Gordon matchup could be intriguing.
Green fought Gordon in April of 2023. But the fight ended in a no contest in the first round after an accidental clash of heads. It’s the only no contest Green has ever had in his professional MMA career. Green’s only other somewhat unresolved bout was a split draw to Lando Vannata in 2017. Green defeated Vannata by unaimous decision in 2020, when the two finally ran that fight back. Both of those bouts ended up winning fight of the night honors as well.
Gordon is 1-1 since fighting Green. In November of 2023, Jared stopped (and retired) Mark Madsen in the first round before dropping a split decision to Nasrat Haqparast last June. Gordon has had three bouts canceled in the nearly two years since he’s fought King. With one of the cancelled bouts being opposite of Green’s only win in the last four bouts (Jim Miller). UFC should run this one back for some guaranteed action between two fighters at around the same spot in their careers with the promotion. Whoever loses, especially if its ugly, could be a loss away from being cut with how crowded and competitive the division is.
Green’s next fight: Jared Gordon Rematch
