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The UFC Light Heavyweight Championship will be on the line when defending champion Alex Pereira battles top-ranked Magomed Ankalaev to highlight the main card at Saturday's UFC 313: Pereira vs. Ankalaev at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The early preliminary card is expected to get underway around 6:30 p.m. ET, with the main UFC 313 fight card starting around 10 p.m. ET. Pereira is coming off a successful title defense at UFC 307 this past October when he defeated Khalil Rountree Jr. with a fourth-round TKO. Ankalaev is coming off a unanimous decision win over Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 308 this past October.

Pereira is a -120 favorite (risk $120 to win $100), while Ankalaev is priced at +100 in the latest UFC 313: Pereira vs. Ankalaev odds, with that fight listed at +180 to go the distance and the over/under for rounds at 3.5. Also on the main card, women's strawweight fighters take the spotlight as fifth-ranked Amanda Lemos (+122) takes on seventh-ranked Iasmin Lucindo (-145) in a title bout. Before making any UFC 313: Pereira vs. Ankalaev picks, be sure to see the UFC 313 predictions and best bets from SportsLine's Daniel Vithlani.

Vithlani is a highly-analytical UFC bettor who has been a consistent winner for SportsLine members since making his debut in January 2023 with a 5-0 record for UFC 283. In fact, he's up over $1,500 on his UFC main-card sports betting picks.

His other highlights include calling an upset for Sean O'Malley (+210) against Aljamain Sterling (-250) at UFC 292 as part of a 4-1 main card and his UFC 299 winners included underdog selections on Dustin Poirier (+190) against Benoit Saint Denis (-230) and Michael Page (+110) against Kevin Holland (-130). Anyone who has followed him at sportsbooks and on betting apps could be way up.

Now, Vithlani has studied Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev from every angle and revealed his top betting picks and best bets. You can only see Vithlani's UFC 313: Pereira vs. Ankalaev picks at SportsLine. 

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Pereira vs. Ankalaev preview

Pereira, 37, first won the vacant UFC light heavyweight championship and Performance of the Night with a TKO of Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295 on Nov. 11, 2023. He has successfully defended that title three times. He defeated Jamahal Hill by first-round knockout at UFC 300 in April 2024, before winning a rematch with Prochazka by second-round TKO at UFC 303 in June 2024. He then followed that up with his win over Rountree.

The Brazilian is No. 3 in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings. Since beginning his professional career with a middleweight bout in October 2015, he has compiled a 12-2 record. He has 10 wins by knockout and two by decision. His losses have come by knockout and submission.

In the meantime, Ankalaev, 32, has also been on a roll. Since his only professional loss, which was by submission to Paul Craig at UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Volkov in March 2018, he has gone 11-0-1 with one no contest. Prior to the win over Rakic, he was dominant with a second-round knockout of Johnny Walker at UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Walker 2 in January 2024. That bout was a rematch of their UFC 294 fight, which ended as a no contest due to an accidental illegal knee which rendered Walker unable to continue.

Ankalaev began his professional career in January 2014, earning a majority decision over Vasily Babich at Oplot Challenge 96 in Kharkiv, Ukraine. He proceeded to go 8-0, catching the attention of UFC. He lost to Craig in his initial UFC appearance, but hasn't missed a beat since. In going 19-1-1 with one no contest, he has 10 wins by knockout and nine by decision. You can only see his picks and analysis at SportsLine.

Top UFC 313 predictions

We'll reveal one of Vithlani's UFC 313: Pereira vs. Ankalaev selections here: He is backing Curtis Blaydes (-330) to defeat Rizvan Kuniev (+260) in a heavyweight matchup on the preliminary card.

"Blaydes is a veteran wrestler and longtime Top-five ranked UFC heavyweight," Vithlani told SportsLine. "His boxing has continued to improve as well, utilizing his long rangy straight punches. Blaydes has been knocked out by power-punchers Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall in recent fights, but Kuniev doesn't represent nearly the same striking threat." See more UFC picks at SportsLine.

How to make UFC 313: Pereira vs. Ankalaev picks

Vithlani has strong picks for Pereira vs. Ankalaev and other bouts on the UFC 313: Pereira vs. Ankalaev card. He's also backing a fighter whose "punishing low kicks have been highly effective" to earn a massive victory. He's sharing who it is only at SportsLine.

Who wins UFC 313: Pereira vs. Ankalaev, and how exactly does the fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks and analysis from the incomparable expert who is up over $1,500 on his UFC main-card picks, and find out. 

UFC 313 main fight card, odds 

See full UFC 313: Pereira vs. Ankalaev picks, predictions, best bets here.

Alex Pereira (-120) vs. Magomed Ankalaev (+100)
Justin Gaethje (+135) vs. Rafael Fiziev (-160)
Jalin Turner (+110) vs. Ignacio Bahamondes (-130)
Amanda Lemos (+122) vs. Iasmin Lucindo (-145)
King Green (+380) vs. Mauricio Ruffy (-500)