Pereira REGAINS the title: KO in 80 seconds to Ankalaev at UFC 320

Alex Pereira Recaptures UFC Light Heavyweight Title with Stunning Victory

In a rematch that proved to be a statement of intent, Alex Pereira regained the UFC light heavyweight championship, defeating Magomed Ankalaev at the UFC 320 event. The fight, which took place in Las Vegas, saw Pereira demonstrate his dominance, finishing Ankalaev with ground strikes in just 80 seconds of the first round.

This result represents a radical change from the previous encounter between both fighters, where Pereira did not show his best version. On Saturday, Pereira came out with determination from the start, surpassing Ankalaev with a combination of blows that left him without a response. This was the fastest finish in Pereira’s MMA career and the second fastest in UFC history in the light heavyweight category, only surpassed by Vitor Belfort’s victory over Randy Couture in 2004.

For Ankalaev, this defeat marked the first knockout loss of his career, ending an undefeated streak of 14 fights.

“Revenge is never good; sometimes it’s like a poison”, Pereira declared through an interpreter. “I told everyone that I wasn’t in good condition last time. Everyone saw it tonight.”

Alex Pereira

During the week of the fight, Pereira’s team revealed that the fighter competed against Ankalaev in March with a fractured tibia, in addition to being sick and under treatment with antibiotics. These circumstances limited his performance, with Pereira estimating that he was only at 40% of his capacity at that time. On Saturday, however, he showed up 100%. Pereira took control of the center of the octagon, pressing Ankalaev with punches. A precise right hand to Ankalaev’s jaw marked the beginning of the end, culminating in elbow strikes from a dominant position. Pereira outstruck Ankalaev in total strikes, with a 28-4 advantage. Following the victory, Pereira made the same provocative gesture he used after knocking out Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 in April 2024. The tension between both fighters was palpable during fight week, with Pereira accusing Ankalaev of avoiding him and lying about his supposed refusal for a rematch.

This victory marked the 12th knockout in Pereira’s MMA career, making him the third two-time light heavyweight champion in UFC history, alongside Couture and Jon Jones. In his post-fight interview, Pereira requested a moment of silence in honor of Jones and his family, following the passing of Jones’s older brother, Arthur, former Super Bowl champion. After reclaiming the title, Pereira has several options for his next fight. He could face Jiri Procházka, who defeated Khalil Rountree Jr. in a fight that was named “Fight of the Night.” Carlos Ulberg, who knocked out Dominick Reyes at a recent event, is also a possibility. Ulberg was present at UFC 320.

Another option would be to move up to the heavyweight category, where he could face Jones or the winner of the fight between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane at UFC 321. UFC CEO Dana White was consulted about this possibility and revealed that Pereira’s team had shown interest in him fighting at heavyweight. White expressed some caution, noting that it would be a significant jump for a fighter who began his UFC career at 185 pounds.

Pereira is already a champion in two UFC categories, light heavyweight and middleweight. In UFC history, there has never been a champion in three weight categories. “He was a middleweight, and is he going to go up two weight classes in the UFC?” White commented. “It’s not like going up two weight classes in boxing. It’s a big jump. And it’s not that I have reservations about it. He’s in a division where there are still interesting fights.” “I don’t know, I like this guy a lot. We’ll see. We’ll have to talk about it.” Ankalaev, 33, will likely have a long road ahead to get another title shot. Ankalaev had a nine-fight winning streak before getting his first title opportunity in 2022, where he fought to a draw with Jan Blachowicz in a fight that was criticized by White. Ankalaev had to win two more fights in 2024 to get a shot against Pereira.