Pereira Recaptures UFC Title: Brutal KO of Ankalaev in 80 Seconds

Alex Pereira Recaptures UFC Light Heavyweight Title with Stunning Victory

In a rematch that left everyone speechless, Alex Pereira proved that his previous defeat to Magomed Ankalaev was not a reflection of his true potential. At UFC 320, Pereira regained the light heavyweight championship with a dominant performance, finishing Ankalaev in the first round. Pereira (14-3) won with authority, stopping Ankalaev (21-2-1) with ground strikes just 80 seconds into the fight. This victory represented a radical change from their previous encounter, where Pereira seemed hesitant. Pereira’s performance was impressive from the start, showing relentless aggression that allowed him to submit Ankalaev without hardly receiving any punishment. This victory not only marked the fastest finish in Pereira’s MMA career, but also the second fastest in the history of the UFC light heavyweight championship. For Ankalaev, this was the first knockout loss of his career, ending an undefeated streak of 14 fights.

Revenge is never good; sometimes it’s like poison. I told everyone I wasn’t in good shape last time. Everyone saw it tonight.

Alex Pereira

During the week of the fight, Pereira’s team revealed that the fighter had competed in March with a fractured tibia, in addition to being sick and under treatment with antibiotics. These circumstances, according to Pereira, limited him to 40% of his capacity. On Saturday, the story was different. Pereira took control of the center of the octagon and pressured Ankalaev, connecting a right hand that staggered him and finishing the fight with elbows from a dominant position. The difference in total strikes was overwhelming, with Pereira outstriking Ankalaev 28-4. Following the victory, Pereira repeated the provocative gesture he used after knocking out Jamahal Hill at UFC 300, adding a touch of tension to the rivalry between the two fighters.

Pereira achieved the twelfth knockout of his MMA career and became the third two-time light heavyweight champion in UFC history, sharing this achievement with legends like Couture and Jon Jones. In the post-fight interview, Pereira requested a moment of silence for Jones and his family, in honor of his brother, who recently passed away. With the title secured, Pereira has multiple options for his next fight, including matchups with Jiri Procházka or Carlos Ulberg. There is also the possibility of moving up to heavyweight to face Jones or the winner of the fight between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane. UFC CEO Dana White revealed that Pereira’s team is interested in having the fighter compete in heavyweight, although he expressed some reservations due to the jump of two weight classes. Pereira is already a champion in two UFC divisions. As for Ankalaev, a long road is anticipated to get another shot at the championship.