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

Alex Pereira Recaptures UFC Light Heavyweight Title with Stunning Victory

Las Vegas – Alex Pereira demonstrated his dominance by reclaiming the UFC light heavyweight championship. In a quick and decisive rematch, Pereira defeated Magomed Ankalaev in just 80 seconds of the first round, regaining the title with an impressive performance. The fight, held at UFC 320, was a clear demonstration of Pereira’s superiority, who finished Ankalaev with ground strikes, marking a radical change from their previous encounter. Pereira, visibly in better shape than in his March fight, came out aggressively from the start, connecting powerful blows that left Ankalaev with no options. This victory represents the fastest knockout of Pereira’s MMA career and the second fastest in the history of UFC light heavyweight title fights. For Ankalaev, this defeat meant the first knockout loss of his career and the end of a 14-fight undefeated streak. Pereira, through an interpreter, stated that he was not in optimal condition in his previous fight and that this time, the public was able to see his true potential. The Pereira team revealed that the fighter competed in March with a fractured tibia and under the effects of antibiotics, which limited his performance to only 40%. On this occasion, he showed himself at 100%, dominating Ankalaev with punches and securing the victory with elbows from a superior position. After the victory, Pereira repeated the mocking gesture he used after knocking out Jamahal Hill at UFC 300, adding a touch of rivalry to the encounter.

With this victory, Pereira adds the 12th knockout in his MMA career and becomes the third two-time light heavyweight champion in UFC history, matching legends like Couture and Jon Jones. In his post-fight interview, Pereira requested a moment of silence in memory of Arthur Jones, brother of Jon Jones, who recently passed away. After reclaiming the title, Pereira has several options for his next fight, including matchups with Jiri Procházka, who also achieved a notable victory at the event, or with Carlos Ulberg. UFC CEO Dana White mentioned the possibility of Pereira competing in heavyweight, although he expressed some reservations due to the change in category. Pereira is already a champion in two divisions, light heavyweight and middleweight, and the possibility of becoming a champion in three divisions is an unprecedented milestone in UFC history. White highlighted the difficulty of moving up two weight classes in the UFC and expressed his interest in discussing Pereira’s future options. Ankalaev, for his part, will have a long road ahead to aspire to another title opportunity. Before his first opportunity, Ankalaev accumulated a streak of nine consecutive victories.