LAS VEGAS — UFC 313 is headed to the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas Saturday, and at the pre-fight press conference on Thursday all the six fighters headlining the main card pledged to put on a show.
All of Saturday’s fights are brought to you in part by Jeremy’s Razors, the Official Razor Partner of UFC. And for the first time since this historic partnership began, The Daily Wire will be in Las Vegas for the fight.
UFC 313 is headlined by a light heavyweight title fight between Brazilian fighter Alex Pereira and Russian challenger Magomed Ankalaev, who embraced his role as the villain during a raucous Thursday press conference at the Michelob Ultra Arena.
Also at the press conference from the card were fighters from the rematch between American fighter Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev of Azerbaijan, and another American, Jalin Turner, who will face off against Chilean challenger Ignacio Bahamondes.
Here’s what the fighters had to say ahead of their face-offs.
Pereira’s highly anticipated title defense against Ankalaev was the main attraction of the Thursday press conference. The first question of the night went to Pereira, who was asked whether Ankalaev is the toughest opponent he’s ever faced.
Pereira was all business: “I’m very, very prepared for this fight.”
Ankalaev faced heavy boos from the crowd, which showered the Russian with the Brazilian’s signature phrase “chama.” Ankalaev said the animosity motivated him.
Daily Wire is in the house for UFC 313 in Las Vegas.
Ton of energy in the room as Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev face off after tonight’s press conference. @JeremysRazors is the Official Razor Partner of UFC. pic.twitter.com/xApHKnuDeu
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“It motivates me. It charges me. Everyone is against me,” Ankalaev said. “I’m here by myself. Everyone’s saying, ‘chama, chama, chama.’ But guess what? Chama time is over. After this Saturday night, after the fight, you will all love me.”
Pereira has won four straight title fights, and may be considering a jump up a weight-class to find new opponents if he handles Ankalaev on Saturday.
American Justin Gaethje is making his return to the Octagon after a brutal last fight, in which he was knocked out cold. He says the knockout forced him to reevaluate his mindset and decide that he needs to embrace the danger of the ring like he did when he was first coming up.
“You know, you have to be willing to take the risk,” Gaethje said. “This is a very risky game. This is a very dangerous game. That was my favorite part of the whole thing when I first started this thing thirteen years ago, how dangerous it is. I kinda forgot that a little bit.”
Gaethje is taking on Rafael Fiziev, a rematch of a fight from two years ago at UFC 286 in London. Gaethje won that fight by decision, but is entering this fight as the underdog. He called the lack of belief that he’ll win the fight “extra motivation” going into Saturday night.
“I’m 6-3 as an underdog, it’s a special place to be,” he said.
Justin Gaethje celebrates his KO victory over Dustin Poirier at UFC 291 (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Fiziev took this fight on short notice after Gaethje’s initial opponent suffered a hand injury. It will be Fiziev’s first fight since 2023 when he tore his ACL. He said returning to the main card for UFC 313 is a “miracle,” and that he expects fireworks.
“When people like me and Justin go into the cages, it’s always fireworks,” Fiziev said. “Always something interesting, something like blood everywhere.”
“I hope this time, it’s not only my blood going everywhere,” he said.
(Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
The lightweight fight of the night will be between American Jalin “Tarantula” Turner and Chilean Ignacio Bahamondes, who both beamed with confidence on Thursday night about putting on the fight of the night.
“I always bring the fight,” Turner said. “Every time my name is on the card, they know I’m gonna bring the fight. We got the most exciting lightweights in the division fighting on this card, and we’re nothing short of that. You can look at the track record, they know it’s gonna be exciting.”
Bahamondes said the crowd should expect a knockout.
“I’m coming for his head. He knows he’s a great opponent. He’s gonna be a great fight,” the Chilean said. “He’s very dangerous, but I think I’m more dangerous than him.”
“It’s gonna be a great night for Chile, Latin America and all the people who love knockouts and strikers.”
The Daily Wire will be at the live weigh-ins on Friday, and in attendance for the fights at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night.
Early prelims begin on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET, and prelims kick off an hour later. The main event is scheduled to start at 10:00 p.m. ET, and all matches will be streaming live on ESPN+. Tune in.
Jeremy’s Razors is the Official Razor Partner of UFC. Buy the razor that’s in the fight for masculinity. Peak performance will be on full display with UFC 313: Pereira versus Ankalaev.
