Pereira wins the title: KO in 80 seconds against Ankalaev at UFC 320

Alex Pereira Recaptures UFC Light Heavyweight Title with Stunning Victory

In a demonstration of power and determination, Alex Pereira regained the UFC light heavyweight championship, defeating Magomed Ankalaev in a rematch that left fans stunned. Pereira, who claimed not to be in optimal condition in his previous encounter in March, proved his words were true by knocking out Ankalaev in the first round. The fight, held at UFC 320, saw Pereira (14-3) finish Ankalaev (21-2-1) with ground strikes just 80 seconds into the match. This victory represented a radical change from the previous fight, where Pereira seemed hesitant. The speed of the victory, the fastest in Pereira’s MMA career, and the second fastest in UFC light heavyweight history, surpassing Ankalaev’s knockout loss, which ended a 14-fight undefeated streak.

Revenge is never good, sometimes it’s like a poison.

Alex Pereira

During the week of UFC 320, 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, estimating that he was only at 40% of his capacity. In Saturday’s fight, Pereira showed up 100%, dominating the center of the octagon and harassing Ankalaev with his strikes. A right hand to Ankalaev’s chin marked the beginning of the end, culminating in elbow strikes from a dominant position. Pereira outstruck Ankalaev in total strikes by a margin of 28-4, and after the fight, he repeated the provocative gesture he used after knocking out Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 in April 2024.

The new light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira, has multiple options for his next fight after his decisive victory over Magomed Ankalaev.This victory represents the 12th knockout in Pereira’s MMA career, making him the third two-time champion in UFC light heavyweight 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 death of his brother Arthur. Pereira’s victory opens up a range of possibilities for his future in the UFC. He could face Jiri Procházka, who also had an outstanding performance on the same night, or Carlos Ulberg. Another option would be to move up to heavyweight, where he could face Jones or the winner of the fight between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane at UFC 321. UFC CEO Dana White commented on the possibility of Pereira competing at heavyweight, revealing that the fighter’s team had expressed interest. White showed some caution, pointing out the difficulty it would entail for a fighter who began his UFC career in the 185-pound category. Pereira, already a champion in two weight classes, could make history if he becomes the first three-division champion in the UFC. Ankalaev, for his part, faces a long road to get another title opportunity.