UFC 320 took place tonight from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!
In the main event, UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev faced Alex Pereira in a highly anticipated rematch for the title. In the co-main event, Merab Dvalishvili put the bantamweight championship on the line against Cory Sandhagen.
UFC 320 Results: Main Card
Light Heavyweight Championship: Alex Pereira def. Magomed Ankalaev via TKO: R1, 1.20
UFC 320 is almost here, and we here at MMA News are here to provide you the latest on betting odds for the card.
The card takes place from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday, October 4. The pay-per-view main card portion of the event will start at 10PM ET/7PM PT, with preliminary action starting at 6PM ET/3PM PT.
The headline attraction for the event will feature a UFC light heavyweight championship rematch between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira.
The co-main event will see the Merab Dvalishvili put the UFC bantamweight championship on the line against Cory Sandhagen.
The pay-per-view card will also feature Jiri Prochazka taking on Khalil Rountree Jr., Josh Emmett facing Youssef Zalal, and Abus Magomedov vs. Joe Pyfer.
UFC 320: Pereira vs. Ankalaev 2 Betting Odds
Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 320 as of October 4 at 8:30pm ET, courtesy of DraftKings.
Main Card:
Light Heavyweight Championship: Magomed Ankalaev (-265) vs. Alex Pereira (+215)
Bantamweight Championship: Merab Dvalishvili (-440) vs. Cory Sandhagen (+340)
Light Heavyweight: Jiri Prochazka (-205) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. (+170)
Featherweight: Josh Emmett (+360) vs. Youssef Zalal (-470)
Middleweight: Abus Magomedov (+200) vs. Joe Pyfer (-245)
Preliminary Card:
Middleweight: Ateba Gautier (-1800) vs. Treston Vines (+1000)
Middleweight: Edmen Shahbazyan (-325) vs. Andre Muniz (+260)
Bantamweight: Chris Gutierrez (+370) vs. Farid Basharat (-485)
Catchweight: Daniel Santos (-148) vs. Joosang Yoo (+124)
Early Preliminary Card:
Women’s Bantamweight: Macy Chiasson (-198) vs. Yana Santos (+164)
Bantamweight: Patchy Mix (-325) vs. Jakub Wiklacz (+260)
Welterweight: Punahele Soriano (-325) vs. Nikolay Veretennikov (+260)
Welterweight: Ramiz Brahimaj (+240) vs. Austin Vanderford (-298)
Women’s Flyweight: Veronica Hardy (-700) vs. Brogan Walker (+500)
We’re about less than 24 hours away from UFC 320, and MMA News is here to bring you the video from the ceremonial weigh-ins for the card!
UFC 320 takes place on October 4 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The main event will see Magomed Ankalaev defend the UFC light heavyweight championship against Alex Pereira. Ankalaev beat Pereira for the title at UFC 313 in March, and he hasn’t tasted defeat since dropping his March 2018 Octagon debut. Pereira originally won the title with a win over Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295, and he retained the gold over Jamahal Hill at UFC 300, Prochazka at UFC 303, and Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307.
The co-main event will see Merab Dvalishvili defend the UFC bantamweight championship against Cory Sandhagen. Dvalishvili won the gold by defeating Sean O’Malley at Noche UFC 2: UFC 306 in September 2024, and he retained the belt over Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 and O’Malley at UFC 316. Sandhagen, meanwhile, has won four of five, most recently stopping Deiveson Figueriedo at UFC Des Moines in May.
The rest of the main card sees Prochazka facing Rountree Jr., Josh Emmett taking on Youssef Zalal, and Abus Magomedov going up against Joe Pyfer.
Though one fighter, Macy Chiasson, missed weight for her prelim matchup, all fights are still on!
The ceremonial weigh-ins present the last opportunity for opponents to face off before they meet inside the Octagon. Check them out below via the UFC’s official YouTube channel!
We are just one day away from UFC 320, and we’ve got the official weigh-in results for you here at MMA News.
UFC 320 takes place from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, featuring a number of noteworthy names topped off with two title fights.
The main event will feature a light heavyweight championship rematch between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira. The two first met at UFC 313 in March, with Ankalaev completely stopping Pereira’s offense over 25 minutes to win the belt.
Ankalaev has won three straight and has not suffered a loss since dropping his UFC debut against Paul Craig in March 2018.
Pereira originally won the light heavyweight title by defeating Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295. He retained the gold three times, defeating Jamahal Hill at UFC 300, Prochazka in a short-notice rematch at UFC 303, and Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307.
Gold will also be on the line in the co-main event, as Merab Dvalishvili defends the bantamweight title against Cory Sandhagen. Dvalishvili won the belt at Noche UFC 2: UFC 306 in September 2024, defeating Sean O’Malley by decision. He retained the belt against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 in January and against O’Malley in a rematch at UFC 316 in June. Sandhagen has won four of his last five, earning this title shot with his finish of Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC Des Moines in May.
The main card will also feature Prochazka and Rountree Jr. in another light heavyweight clash, a featherweight fight featuring Josh Emmett and Youssef Zalal, and a middleweight matchup that sees Abus Magomedov take on Joe Pyfer.
UFC 320 Weigh-In Video, Results
UFC 320 takes place Saturday, October 4 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card begins at 10 PM ET/7 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 6 PM ET/3 PM PT.
See above to watch the UFC 320 Weigh-In Show (beginning at 11:50 a.m. ET), and check out the full results below.
Main Card:
Light Heavyweight Championship: Magomed Ankalaev (204.5) vs. Alex Pereira (204.5)
Bantamweight Championship: Merab Dvalishvili (135) vs. Cory Sandhagen (134.5)
Light Heavyweight: Jiri Prochazka (206) vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. (205)
Featherweight: Josh Emmett (146) vs. Youssef Zalal (146)
Middleweight: Abus Magomedov (185.5) vs. Joe Pyfer (186)
Preliminary Card:
Middleweight: Ateba Gautier (185) vs. Treston Vines (185)
Middleweight: Edmen Shahbazyan (185.5) vs. Andre Muniz (185.5)
Bantamweight: Chris Gutierrez (136) vs. Farid Basharat (136)
*153-pound catchweight bout: Daniel Santos (151) vs. Joosang Yoo (152.5)
Early Preliminary Card:
Women’s Bantamweight: Macy Chiasson (137.5**) vs. Yana Santos (135)
Bantamweight: Patchy Mix (136) vs. Jakub Wiklacz (136)
Welterweight: Punahele Soriano (170.5) vs. Nikolay Veretennikov (170.5)
Welterweight: Ramiz Brahimaj (170.5) vs. Austin Vanderford (170.5)
Women’s Flyweight: Veronica Hardy (125.5) vs. Brogan Walker (124.5)
*Bout was originally scheduled as a featherweight bout but was changed on the day of weigh-ins
**Chiasson misses non-title bantamweight limit by 1.5 pounds. Chiasson fined 25 percent of her purse.
UFC 320 is just a couple of days away, featuring a pair of anticipated title fights. Time to stir the pot more and gain more hype for UFC 320, courtesy of a good ol’ fashion question-and-answer session.
The tenth UFC pay-per-view event of the year goes down from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday, October 4.
UFC 320 will be headlined by Magomed Ankalaev defending the UFC light heavyweight championship in a rematch with Alex Pereira.
The co-main event will see Merab Dvalishvili defending the UFC bantamweight championship against Cory Sandhagen.
The rest of the main card features a light heavyweight clash between Jiri Prochazka and Khalil Rountree Jr., a featherweight fight featuring Josh Emmett and Youssef Zalal, and a middleweight encounter that sees Abus Magomedov take on Joe Pyfer.
Watch The UFC 320: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira 2 Pre-Fight Press Conference
As per tradition, the UFC pay-per-view main card participants will be featured in a press conference during fight week. This is the opportunity for fighters to answer questions from media and fans, as well as potentially lay in some smack talk on their opponents.
The UFC returns to its home of Las Vegas with a pair of title fights this Saturday for UFC 320. Get yourself ready and in the know with another edition of MMA News staff fight predictions.
The event will be available exclusively on ESPN pay-per-view on Saturday, October 4. The main card will begin at its usual 10pm ET start time, with preliminary card action kicking off at 6pm ET.
The main event will feature a rematch for the UFC light heavyweight championship, as Magomed Ankalaev makes his first defense, taking on the man he won the belt from, Alex Pereira.
The pair first met at UFC 313 in March, with Ankalaev executing a perfect gameplan to nullify Pereira’s offense and claim the championship. Ankalaev has not lost since dropping his UFC debut in March 2018, going 12-0-1 (1 NC) in that span. Pereira, who is also a former UFC middleweight champion, won the light heavyweight title by defeating Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295. He retained the title three times in 2024, defeating Jamahal Hill at UFC 300, Prochazka at UFC 303, and Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307.
The co-main event of the evening will also see gold on the line, as Merab Dvalishvili defends the UFC bantamweight championship against Cory Sandhagen.
Dvalishvili has not lost since dropping his first two Octagon bouts. After defeating Sean O’Malley for the title at Noche UFC 2: UFC 306 last year, Dvalishvili has since retained the gold against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 and O’Malley at UFC 316. Sandhagen has won four of his last five, most recently finishing Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC Des Moines in May.
The rest of the UFC 320 main card will see light heavyweight action featuring Prochazka and Rountree Jr., a featherweight fight where Josh Emmett takes on Youssef Zalal, and a middleweight matchup between Abus Magomedov and Joe Pyfer.
UFC 320: MMA News Staff Predictions
With UFC 320 just a couple of short days away, Ryan Jarrell, Pranav Pandey, and myself (Thomas Albano) have provided our picks for the fights that make up the main card.
Below, you can check out the current leaderboard through nine cards in 2025.
Pranav Pandey (23-19) Thomas Albano (23-19)
Ryan Jarrell (22-20)
And now, let’s take a look at everyone’s picks for UFC 320!
Middleweight: Abus Magomedov vs. Joe Pyfer
Images: UFC.com
Pranav Pandey: Pyfer has put together a solid run in the UFC, and aside from that slip-up against Jack Hermansson, I still see him as a real threat in the middleweight division. Meanwhile, I’m not entirely convinced about Abus Magomedov’s consistency, though there’s no denying he has the power to end a fight if he finds his shot. Still, I believe “Bodybagz” will be the sharper, more dangerous fighter on the night, and I’m backing him to get the job done. (Prediction: Pyfer)
Thomas Albano: I don’t want to exclusively refer to this as grappler vs. striker, as Abus Magomedov has a decent all-around game. Having said that, with Pyfer being better with his striking – and perhaps a desire to put on a show after a lackluster win over Kelvin Gastelum – expect him to push the pace while Magomedov tries to hold him back. Magomedov is going to need to mix things up, and he’s going to have to avoid tiring himself out. If Magomedov tries to be too focused on getting an impressive finish himself, a brutal consequence might await. The longer the fight goes, I feel Pyfer will have more of an edge, so I will lean to him scoring the win here. (Prediction: Pyfer)
Ryan Jarrell: Joe Pyfer has the tools to be a real problem in the middleweight division and this matchup should be an interesting test for the surging fighter. Abus is a well rounded fighter on a nice three fight win streak with his most recent win over the dynamic, Michel Periera. I expect Bodybagz to use his strength and grappling skills to dictate where the fight takes place throughout the duration of the contest. Give me Pyfer to win a decision in the main card curtain jerker. (Prediction: Pyfer)
Consensus: 3-0 Pyfer
Featherweight: Josh Emmett vs. Youssef Zalal
Images: UFC.com
Pranav Pandey: Age could be a factor here, but with age comes experience, and Josh Emmett has plenty of that to lean on. He’s been around long enough to know how to trade with precision on the feet, and he still carries fight-ending power in his hands. Sure, his recent form hasn’t been the best, but those losses came against some of the elite in the division.
On the other side, Zalal brings youth, freshness, and a dangerous finishing instinct, especially when he’s able to drag opponents into his world on the canvas. The real question is whether Emmett can shrug off those grappling exchanges. If he can keep “The Moroccan Devil” from controlling the fight on the ground, I think the veteran has a very fair shot at reminding everyone why he’s still a serious threat. (Prediction: Emmett)
Thomas Albano: Simply put, this is a battle of experienced talent versus rising, talented youth name. Emmett’s got power and wrestling, and he shouldn’t be written off. That said, you can see age showing its presence by how he looked a little slower in his loss against Lerone Murphy. I could see Zalal utilizing his speed to land quick strikes and control the action around the Octagon – and potentially go tit-for-tat with Emmett on the ground. I’m not going to deny Emmett’s abilities and power, but I will say I think this is a fight where the youth wins out. (Prediction: Zalal)
Ryan Jarrell: Youssef Zalal looked absolutely incredible in the first two rounds of the Calvin Kattar fight. His timing and movement looked as good as I’ve seen at featherweight and if that version of the Moroccan devil shows up in Las Vegas then it will be a long night for the veteran fighter. Josh Emmett, however, has fight altering power and can change the trajectory of a fight with one shot. This fight will come down to just that. I believe the movement of Zalal will be too superior and he will avoid the power shots of Emmett en route to a smartly fought unanimous decision victory. (Prediction: Zalal)
Consensus: 2-1 Zalal
Light Heavyweight: Jiri Prochazka vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.
Images: UFC.com
Pranav Pandey: This one screams top-tier violence, the kind of chaos that could swing either way. Both men are among the most dangerous strikers at 205 pounds, yet their styles couldn’t be more different, and that contrast is what makes this matchup so intriguing. Rountree Jr. is as fundamentally sound as they come, throwing clean, precise shots with bone-crushing power. “The War Horse” put on a strong showing against Pereira even though he fell short, and his fight with Jamahal Hill proved just how much he’s leveled up.
But things are never straightforward against Prochazka. He’s unorthodox, unpredictable, and nearly impossible to read. You never know what angle his strikes will come from or how he’ll set traps in the chaos. For me, this feels like a pure 50-50 fight, but if I have to choose, I’m putting my money on “BJP” to find a way in the madness. (Prediction: Prochazka)
Thomas Albano: After UFC Baku, people were calling for this match, and now it will be delivered. If you like power, if you like strikes, and if you especially like kicks, this is going to be the matchup for you. Both men are excellent strikers, albeit one (Prochazka) is more wild, while the other (Rountree) is more strategical. Both men are tough to finish, but even with a potential grappling edge in Rountree, I feel Prochazka will be looking to continuously pressure and use his power to put Rountree in trouble. And given their UFC resumes side-by-side as well, I’ll lean toward the former champion in this one. (Prediction: Prochazka)
Ryan Jarrell: This fight is so interesting because Rountree has the power to turn off anyone’s lights including Prochazka. We saw Khalil fight incredibly disciplined in his impressive win over the former champion, Jamahal Hill. I can honestly see a very similar fight happening here, however, Jiri is more dynamic and unpredictable inside the octagon. Because of that I expect some crazy moments where both men may be in trouble and it could come down to who fights the smarter fight. I don’t feel great about this pick but I will lean Rountree to stay disciplined and fight somewhat safe en route to a decision victory. (Prediction: Rountree)
Consensus: 3-0 Prochazka
Bantamweight Championship: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Cory Sandhagen
Images: UFC.com
Pranav Pandey: Few fighters earn their nicknames quite like “The Machine.” Dvalishvili is a generational talent, and I personally love watching his relentless style; elite opponents constantly struggle to figure him out. He imposes his will, grinding down challengers with his endless cardio and ceaseless pressure.
But then there’s Sandhagen, a master of striking, with fluid footwork, sharp angles, and a frame built to leverage every punch. In a world without Dvalishvili, Sandhagen’s weaponry could give almost anyone trouble. But the truth is, keeping pace with Merab’s relentless pressure and nonstop output is a different challenge altogether. “The Machine” shines when opponents try to chase him
“The Machine” will need to stay sharp against Sandhagen’s power shots; otherwise, he could cruise to another dominant control win, or maybe even a stoppage. (Prediction: Dvalishvili)
Thomas Albano: For Dvalishvili, this is a fight where if he wins, he may have locked up Fighter of the Year awards across MMA media when 2025 comes to an end. Sandhagen is a tough competitor with great boxing, and he will need to use it to secure a victory here. The problem is, with all due respect to him, I don’t see him as too much of a threat. Sure, he’s got good takedown defense, but Dvalishvili is another level of animal when it comes to takedowns and grappling. And even as champion, I feel Dvalishvili has continued to show improvements, from a comeback victory to retain against Umar Nurmagomedov, to being able to finish Sean O’Malley in their rematch. Give me Dvalishvili in a one-sided decision to keep the gold and lock himself in as 2025’s Fighter of the Year. (Prediction: Dvalishvili)
Ryan Jarrell: Until I actually see the Champion lose his belt, I just cannot pick against him. Merab has proven to be such a tough out for anyone in the world at 135 pounds. Cory Sandhagen has the skillset to be a champion and he definitely poses some interesting challenges to the champ. But at the end of day, Merab always finds a way to win and that’s exactly what I expect to see in the co-main event. Merab will dictate where the fight takes place and cruise to a unanimous decision victory. (Prediction: Dvalishvili)
Consensus: 3-0 Dvalishvili
Light Heavyweight Championship: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira 2
Images: UFC.com
Pranav Pandey: After a first fight that fell short of expectations, this rematch feels like the redemption both fans and fighters were craving. Now that Ankalaev and Pereira have studied each other’s every move, we can expect a sharper, smarter, and more intense battle. At UFC 313, Ankalaev had the upper hand against “Poatan,” making the most of his sharp striking and masterful counter-punching. Every grappling attempt he tried was neatly defended by Pereira, who struggled to get his offense going. Now, the big question is what new tricks Ankalaev will bring. With his arsenal of tools—from cutting angles with surgical precision to exploiting every weakness—he’s ready to constantly keep Pereira on edge.
On the flip side, I’m genuinely curious to see how Pereira has evolved for this rematch. In their first fight, he seemed hesitant to pull the trigger, but we all know “Poatan” carries some of the most devastating kicks in MMA. I think those kicks will be a crucial weapon to slow down Ankalaev’s forward pressure and shake up the fight’s rhythm.
Honestly, predicting this one has me torn. Both fighters bring incredible skill, and it could go either way. Still, I’m leaning toward Pereira to finally get the job done that slipped through his fingers last time. “Poatan’s” time to shine, but this is not going to be an easy night for him. (Prediction: Pereira)
Thomas Albano: Ultimately, the question here will be if Pereira is going to be able to make the adjustments from the first fight. His offense was completely neutralized by Ankalaev in March. He has claimed that he wasn’t at 100 percent for the fight (a fair argument perhaps given his activity level in 2024), but the UFC 313 bout showed that Ankalaev has what it takes to stop Pereira’s creative and powerful striking over the course of 25 minutes. And while I don’t want to count Chama out, if Ankalaev was able to do that once, what’s to say he won’t be able to do it again? (Prediction: Ankalaev)
Ryan Jarrell: My initial thought for this main event title fight was to pick Ankalaev to do the exact same thing we saw in their first tilt. But after hearing Poatan say he was injured and not close to 100%, I am hesitant to do so. If the former champ is being truthful about his previous injury, then this could be a vastly different fight then the one we saw at UFC 313. At the end of the day, Alex is 5 years older than the new champ in a sport where the young eat the old. I wouldn’t be shocked if Poatan lands one of his devastating strikes and wins by TKO, but I believe the safe play is to pick Ankalaev by decision. (Prediction: Ankalaev)
Consensus: 2-1 Ankalaev
That’ll do it for our UFC 320 staff picks! What do you think? Do your predictions look similar? Let us know in the comments section!
Also, you can check out the full UFC 320 card below.
Main Card:
Light Heavyweight Championship: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira
Bantamweight Championship: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Cory Sandhagen
Light Heavyweight: Jiri Prochazka vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.
Featherweight: Josh Emmett vs. Youssef Zalal
Middleweight: Abus Magomedov vs. Joe Pyfer
Preliminary Card:
Middleweight: Ateba Gautier vs. Treston Vines
Middleweight: Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Andre Muniz
Bantamweight: Chris Gutierrez vs. Farid Basharat
Featherweight: Daniel Santos vs. Joosang Yoo
Early Preliminary Card:
Women’s Bantamweight: Macy Chiasson vs. Yana Santos
Bantamweight: Patchy Mix vs. Jakub Wiklacz
Welterweight: Punahele Soriano vs. Nikolay Veretennikov
Welterweight: Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Austin Vanderford
Former UFC champion Alex Pereira has said that he’s excited to show a new version of himself when he challenges Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320.
In the main event of UFC 320 on Saturday night, Alex Pereira will face Magomed Ankalaev for the UFC light heavyweight championship. It’s a rematch from their first encounter earlier this year and on that occasion, it was Ankalaev who was able to walk away with the world title around his waist. Now, however, ‘Poatan’ is back, and he’s ready to prove that he’s more than good enough to become champion once again.
Alex Pereira has faced his fair share of adversity before, but he’s arguably never been as much of an underdog as he is heading into this encounter. Ankalaev has looked pretty dominant for most of his UFC career and although he’s experienced a few hiccups, he’s still one of the best fighters in the UFC.
In a recent interview, Pereira explained why the actual result of the fight isn’t everything to him this weekend.
Alex Pereira is ready to show his improvements
“Of course I want to win, but the result doesn’t define everything. What I trained, what I’ve evolved— in the first fight it was very even, and I couldn’t show everything I learned. Now I’ve had the opportunity to show what I corrected and how much I’ve improved.”
Pereira knows the level of opponent that he’s taking on here, and he’s well aware of the fact that he needs to be the best version of himself if he wants to stand a chance at victory.
UFC star Alex Pereira isn’t too bothered about what Magomed Ankalaev brings to the cage when they collide once again at UFC 320.
On Saturday night, Alex Pereira gets his chance at revenge when he locks horns with Magomed Ankalaev. The two men met earlier this year and in that instance, it was Ankalaev who was able to come out on top. As a result, he became the new UFC light heavyweight champion, sending Pereira back to the drawing board in the process.
Now, Alex Pereira has the opportunity to really cement his position as one of the all-time greats by overcoming Ankalaev and winning the title for the second time. ‘Poatan’ isn’t immune to adversity and he’s been through a lot in his career already, but this time, it definitely feels like the stakes are high.
In a recent media scrum, however, Alex Pereira made it known that he doesn’t put too much thought into what Ankalaev is doing.
Alex Pereira isn’t interested when it comes to Magomed Ankalaev
“When I’m watching these videos that have me and him there, when it gets to his part, I skip forward. I swear by my children, I never watch it. I don’t want to see what he’s doing strategically. I never watch, truly, I never watch.
“I watch my fight, but I don’t watch what he’s doing there. So when it gets to my part, it’s a 30-minute video, there’s 5 minutes of my part, I don’t even watch, I skip forward, my part ends, the video ends.”
Dricus Du Plessis trusts Alex Pereira won’t repeat the mistakes he made in the first clash with Magomed Ankalaev.
Pereira is set to run it back with reigning light heavyweight champion Ankalaev in the UFC 320 main event on October 4 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Two titles headline in the Fight Capital 🏆🏆#UFC320 Fight Week has officially started!
The two first met at UFC 313 in March, where “Poatan” showcased his stellar takedown defense by shutting down all 12 of Ankalaev’s attempts to bring the fight to the mat. Despite neutralizing the his opponent’s wrestling, Pereira found himself on the wrong side of the striking exchanges, as the Russian edged him across five rounds to claim the 205-pound title.
Image: UFC/Zuffa LLC
Dricus Du Plessis Believes Alex Pereira Will Defeat Magomed Ankalaev In UFC 320 Rematch
During a recent interview with Fight Forecast, Dricus Du Plessis shared his thoughts on the upcoming UFC 320 clash between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira. The former middleweight champion credited Ankalaev for emerging victorious at UFC 313 but warned that “Poatan” will return sharper, and far more dangerous in the rematch as he looks to reclaim his crown.
“I’ve been looking at the training footage of Pereira for this one.” Du Plessis said. “He looks scary. He looks angry. And, you know, we’ll see what that loss did to him. He has come back from a loss and came back to reclaim the title, but, this fight is a big fight for him. Ankalaev now has that confidence, of course, of being the champion. But, I’m going to go with Pereira on this one.”
“Stillknocks” went on to say he believes Pereira has addressed the weaknesses that cost him in their first encounter and is confident the Brazilian will correct those mistakes to finish Ankalaev at UFC 320.
“It wasn’t the fact that he got taken down. It’s the fact that he got smothered… He’s going to need to keep his back off the fence, and I do believe that they’ve spent enough time working on that. Him taking some time away from the sport was good for him… I really don’t see this fight going the distance this time, but I’m putting my money on Alex Pereira to claim the title. I have to go with him.”
Before his loss to Ankalaev, Alex Pereira successfully defended the light heavyweight title three times in 2024, scoring back-to-back knockout victories over Khalil Rountree Jr., Jiri Prochazka, and Jamahal Hill. “Poatan” now boasts a 9-2 UFC record, with seven of those wins coming via devastating knockouts.
Magomed Ankalaev’s coach has given his thoughts on Alex Pereira‘s striking, and it’s safe to say that he’s not overly impressed.
In the main event of UFC 320, Magomed Ankalaev will defend his UFC light heavyweight championship against Alex Pereira. It’s the same pairing that led to Ankalaev winning the strap earlier this year, and he seems pretty confident that he can get the job done once again in the rematch on Saturday night.
Alex Pereira will have different plans, but Ankalaev has improved a great deal over the course of the last few years, especially in the striking department. As we look ahead to this fight, it’ll be interesting to see how cautious both men are and whether or not they’ll really push for a finish.
In the UFC 320 Countdown show, Magomed Ankalaev’s coach had the following to say about ‘Poatan’.
😬👀 Magomed Ankalaev's head coach thinks that Alex Pereira will wrestle and clinch because nothing will work out for him in striking.
Coach Sukhrab calls Alex "an old kickboxer" that has no speed.
Alex Pereira questioned by Magomed Ankalaev’s coach
“Alex will go for the clinch, wrestle. Why? Because in the stand-up nothing will work out for him. In the fight, the whole arena will be shouting, he hears only my voice.”
“Alex Pereira, there’s nothing with which he can surprise us. Not with his work in the stand-up. In wrestling he definitely cannot surprise. He cannot surprise with anything.”
“His technique is standard, his strikes are standard. He’s an old kickboxer. He has no speed.”
“Powerful punch? Alex, he has a punch, but not the kind that can really knock you out.”
“I tell everyone, if Magomed opens up, he’ll surprise everyone, and can even outplay, in pure stand-up, a better striker than Alex Pereira.”
Magomed Ankalaev is insisting that Alex Pereira had an unfair advantage in their first fight.
Ankalaev is gearing up to defend his light heavyweight title for the first time against Pereira in the UFC 320 main event, set for October 4 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The two first clashed at UFC 313 this past March, where Ankalaev dethroned “Poatan” with a unanimous decision to capture the light heavyweight crown. While the Russian champ outworked Pereira on the feet across five hard-fought rounds, he also leaned heavily on his wrestling arsenal.
Still, Ankalaev’s grappling yielded nothing, as the resilient Brazilian shut down all 12 of his takedown attempts. Now, though, he believes it wasn’t a shortcoming in skill but rather an illicit tactic on Pereira’s part.
Image: UFC.com
Magomed Ankalaev Claims Alex Pereira Used Grease During UFC 313 Bout
Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira have been trading barbs ever since their first clash, and with UFC 320 drawing near, the rivalry is boiling over.
At a recent open workout in Las Vegas, the reigning light heavyweight champion accused “Poatan” of bending the rules in their UFC 313 showdown, alleging that Pereira greased up to make grappling exchanges far more difficult.
At a recent media interaction during an open workout in Las Vegas, the reigning light heavyweight champion doubled down on his coach Sukhrab Magomedov’s earlier accusations, claiming that “Poatan” bent the rules in their UFC 313 showdown by greasing up to make grappling exchanges nearly impossible.
“Also, I told my coach right away during the rounds that I felt like he was greased,” Magomed Ankalaev said through a translator. “He was just too slippery. These things happen in professional sport, I’m not accusing him of anything, but that’s just what I felt. I spar every day, I train every day, you can feel when people are slippery. It’s too much slippery. So I felt he was too greasy and that played a role also.”
Ankalaev rides a 14-fight unbeaten streak, boasting victories over notable names such as Aleksandar Rakic, Johnny Walker, and Thiago Santos. The 33-year-old Russian stands with a professional slate of 22-1-1 and one no contest, his lone setback coming back in March 2018 when he was submitted by Paul Craig in the third round.
Alex Pereira had certain shortcomings in the first Magomed Ankalaev bout that he can potentially subvert in their rematch, in the eyes of a former UFC title challenger. This sentiment was expressed by Dan Hardy during an interview with Helen Yee Sports at Xtreme Couture.
At UFC 313 in March, Alex Pereira dropped his light heavyweight title to Magomed Ankalaev and the fairly lopsided bout saw Ankalaev ascend to the 205 pound throne by way of a unanimous decision. Giving his overview on the first fight and touching on the looming Pereira-Ankalaev sequel clash in the coming weeks, Dan Hardy said,
“I think maybe [Pereira] had a little bit too much respect for [Magomed] Ankalaev in the last fight… Pereira when he’s at that close range—either when you’re coming to him, like when [Sean] Strickland fought him, or when someone’s moving away and he’s walking into their range like Jamahal Hill—you feel that pressure of his kind of frame coming at you and people feel like they need to react.”
“If I’m [Alex] Pereira, I would be thinking about getting as close to him as possible, getting in his face, maybe even try and use a bit of Thai clinch just to kind of manage the clinch a bit. He’s going to be better defending takedowns on the front foot as well, right?… It’s better if he’s pressuring forward and forcing Ankalaev to shoot under pressure.”
Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalev 2 broken down by a former UFC light heavyweight champion
Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev will again step into the octagon on UFC 320 on October 4th. One of the fighters who knows Pereira best, and is also interwoven within that UFC light heavyweight title lineage, has weighed in on the sequel clash. Glover Teixeira is the combatant in question and the former UFC titleholder has guided the career of ‘Poatan’ in a coaching capacity for several years now.
On the Overdogs Brasil podcast with Renato Moicano as well as American Top Team coach Marcos da Matta, the 45-year-old commented on how he sees the second chapter of the Pereira vs. Ankalaev story unfurling as Teixeira stated [viaSherdog],
“The first round will be brutal. It’s not that he’ll come in angry, but he’ll come in with that same [aggressive] attitude. This fight will be much more dynamic. ‘Poatan’ will be pressing the entire time because he’s ready for it.”
“Mentally, there are guys who are different. I’ve always been calm in my fights, but I had my doubts. ‘Poatan’ seems very confident, very focused. He’s doing very well. Now we’ll hone it in these last three weeks, get the timing right, because the guy is already ready for five rounds.”
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has revealed that he is training with former foe Sean Strickland ahead of his rematch with Magomed Ankalaev.
As we know, Alex Pereira is set to challenge Magomed Ankalaev for the UFC light heavyweight championship in the main event of UFC 320. It comes after Ankalaev won the belt from ‘Poatan’, with many wondering whether or not the Brazilian had the skills necessary to overcome the new champion in a rematch. Regardless of which side of the fence you fall on, we’re going to find out the answer sooner rather than later.
Alex Pereira’s big problem, in the eyes of many, is that he simply can’t deal with Ankalaev on the ground. As you can imagine, he’ll be doing everything in his power to rectify that problem ahead of fight night.
In a recent video released by Alex Pereira, he revealed that he’s been training with former opponent Sean Strickland.
Alex Pereira and Sean Strickland training together ahead of Pereira's rematch with Magomed Ankalaev 👀
It’s certainly going to be interesting to see whether or not this is going to have a big impact on Pereira and how he approaches this fight. Strickland isn’t particularly known for his wrestling prowess, but he’s definitely the right kind of fighter to have around when you’re viewed as an underdog in a world title fight.
It’s always great to see former rivals putting their differences aside to train with each other, and it’ll be interesting to see how long they keep up this partnership.
UFC legend Alex Pereira has spoken about the miscommunication he had with the promotion that led to an angry tweet he sent out a few months ago.
As we know, Alex Pereira is one of the best fighters of his generation. He is a two-weight UFC champion, and he has proven himself to be one of the most exciting, must-see athletes on the planet. In his last outing, however, he lost his UFC light heavyweight championship in a defeat to Magomed Ankalaev.
As we look ahead to the future, it certainly seems as if Magomed Ankalaev vs Alex Pereira 2 is the right move. Prior to their first meeting, though, ‘Poatan’ landed himself in hot water – or so it seemed – after tweeting out his frustrations with the UFC.
In a recent interview, Alex Pereira decided to clarify the situation.
Alex Pereira reveals dispute with UFC
“Before the first fight, I don’t know the reason, but the UFC didn’t want to put me with him. Everyone saw no one was interested to see him fight. Then his team talked saying I was scared, that I didn’t want to accept the fight or the rematch.
“But I already had conversations with the UFC and knew the date—it was October. I had to recover from multiple fights in a short period. I waited for the best date for me, and October works well. If he was ready in June, July or August, that’s before our agreed date, so he doesn’t have the moral of the champion ready and waiting for the challenger.”
“I was a bit upset and tweeted out of moment because of some promises about the fight. Later I realized it was a miscommunication with the UFC. I didn’t inform my manager before tweeting and I regret that. If I’d called Hunter, I think it would have been solved without any exposure.”
UFC 319 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leader’s next pay-per-view offering, UFC 320 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The promotion was in Chicago last week, where the United Center played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its eighth numbered event of the year. Of note were headline wins for Khamzat Chimaev and Lerone Murphy, as well as important victories for Carlos Prates, Michael “Venom” Page, and Tim Elliott.
While the aftermath of the August 16 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the middleweight championship title picture to the light heavyweight and bantamweight championship conversations.
At UFC 320, which takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 4, Magomed Ankalaev will defend the UFC light heavyweight championship against Alex Pereira. This will be a rematch of their UFC 313 encounter in March, which saw Ankalaev pull off the upset by decision to become the new champion.
Anakalev is 12-0-1 (1 NC) since dropping his UFC debut. Pereira, who has held gold at both 185 and 205 in the UFC, won the light heavyweight title by defeating Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295. He then defended the belt against Jamahal Hill at UFC 300, Prochazka at UFC 303, and Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307.
Stakes will also be high in the co-main event, as the bantamweight championship will be on the line when Merab Dvalishvili defends against Cory Sandhagen. Dvalishvili won the title from Sean O’Malley at Noche UFC 2 (UFC 306) last September and has successfully retained against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 and O’Malley at UFC 316. A win against Sandhagen could solidify Fighter of the Year awards for him across MMA media — to add onto the ESPY he received last month. Sandhagen has won four of his last five, finishing Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC Des Moines in May.
Prochazka, Rakic, Magomedov Set The Stage For Light Heavyweight Title Headliner At UFC 320
Before Ankalaev and Dvalishvili make their way out to defend their titles, several names will look to make their own statements on the main card for UFC 320.
This includes Jiri Prochazka, who will be doing battle with Khalil Rountree Jr. Prochazka, a former light heavyweight champion, rebounded from his second loss to Pereira with a first-round knockout of another former champion in Jamahal Hill at UFC 311. Rountree Jr. rebounded from his unsuccessful challenge of Pereira with a five-round domination of Hill at UFC Baku a couple of months ago.
Another light heavyweight contender in Aleksandar Rakic will also be in action, taking on Azamat Murzakamov. This bout was scheduled for UFC 321 later in October but has been pushed up. Rakic will be looking to snap a three-fight losing skid, most recently dropping a decision to Ankalaev at UFC 308. Murzakamov is a 15-0 up-and-comer who scored a finish of Brendson Ribeiro at UFC 316.
The main card is scheduled to open with Abus Magomedov taking on Joe Pyfer. Magomedov has won three straight, most recently scoring a decision over Michel Pereira at UFC Kansas City in April. Pyfer has won two straight and is 5-1 in the Octagon, most recently defeating Kelvin Gastelum by decision at UFC 316.
Those pairings have currently gotten the nod to feature on the main card over the likes of Patchy Mix, Edmen Shahbazyan, and Macy Chiasson, all of whom are expected to be featured players on the event’s preliminary card.
See below for the UFC 320 lineup, as it stands.
Main Card:
Light Heavyweight Championship: Magomed Ankalev vs. Alex Pereira
Bantamweight Championship: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Cory Sandhagen
Light Heavyweight: Jiri Prochazka vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.
Light Heavyweight: Aleksandar Rakic vs. Azamat Murzakamov
Middleweight: Abus Magomedov vs. Joe Pyfer
Preliminary Card (Order TBA):
Middleweight: Ateba Abega Gautier vs. Ozzy Diaz
Middleweight: Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Andre Muniz
Bantamweight: Patchy Mix vs. Jakub Wiklacz
Women’s Flyweight: Veronica Hardy vs. Brogan Walker
Bantamweight: Chris Gutierrez vs. Farid Basharat
Women’s Bantamweight: Macy Chiasson vs. Yana Santos
Welterweight: Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Austin Vanderford
Note: There will be no September UFC PPV. Noche UFC 3 on September 13 will be a UFC Fight Night event, which will serve as a lead-in for the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford boxing card. Alvarez-Crawford will be the first major fight promoted by TKO Boxing, which includes UFC CEO & President Dana White.
UFC middleweight Caio Borralho has predicted that Alex Pereira will get his revenge on Magomed Ankalaev and defeat him in their highly anticipated rematch.
As we know, Alex Pereira is one of the most popular fighters in all of mixed martial arts. He went on an incredible run at both middleweight and light heavyweight, but his title reign at 205 pounds came to an end recently at the hands of Magomed Ankalaev. While it was a tense and fascinating encounter, Ankalaev certainly appeared to do more than enough to get his hand raised.
Now, though, fans are getting ready to see Alex Pereira try and get his revenge. It’s going to be easier said than done given what we know about the toughness and heart of Magomed Ankalaev, but in equal measure, ‘Poatan’ can never be ruled out of any fight courtesy of his incredible power and precision.
In a recent interview, Caio Borralho became the latest fighter to give his thoughts on what will go down when Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev stand across the cage from each other for the second time.
Caio Borralho backs Alex Pereira to beat Magomed Ankalaev in rematch
“Alex Pereira is a hard guy to fight because he’s very intelligent, but I think this rematch will be mostly the same. Alex knows he can defend the takedowns, so now he can risk more to bring pressure and find that knockout.”
It’s anyone’s guess as to which way this one is going to go, but one thing we know for sure is that we’re bound to see fireworks.
While there will be no UFC pay-per-view in September, the UFC is loading up the card for what will hopefully be a memorable night of action in Las Vegas on October 4 with UFC 320.
UFC CEO and President Dana White took to Instagram Live on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 22, to confirm the leading bouts for the card.
The main event will be a UFC light heavyweight championship rematch between defending champion Magomed Ankalaev and former champion Alex Pereira. The two clashed for the championship back at UFC 313 in March, with Ankalaev pulling off the upset and claiming the gold.
Ankalaev has not lost a fight in MMA since dropping his UFC debut. Ankalaev has won three straight, knocking out Johnny Walker and scoring a decision over Aleksandar Rakic before the win over Pereira.
Pereira had won five straight before losing to Ankalaev. After defeating Jiri Prochazka for the then-vacant gold at UFC 295, Pereira defended the light heavyweight title three times in 2024, scoring finishes over Jamahal Hill, Prochazka, and Khalil Rountree Jr.
Ankalaev vs. Pereira 2 To Be Led In By Dvalishvili vs. Sandhagen & Prochazka vs. Rountree
The UFC 320 co-main event will see the bantamweight title on the line as Merab Dvalishvili defends against No. 3 contender Cory Sandhagen.
Dvalishvili claimed the title at Noche UFC 2: UFC 306 with a win over Sean O’Malley. He has since retained the title against both Umar Nurmagomedov and O’Malley in 2025. Sandhagen has won four of five since falling short in a 2021 interim title fight with Petr Yan, capped off by a finish of former flyweight champ Deivesion Figueiredo in May.
The previously mentioned Prochazka and Rountree Jr will also be featured at UFC 320, as they will take on one another. Both men come into this fight off wins over the aforementioned Jamahal Hill this year, with Prochazka finishing Hill at UFC 311 in January and Rountree sweeping the cards against Hill in the main event of UFC Baku last month.
One day removed from UFC 315, in spite of promises made in the days leading up to the event, there is still no announced main event for UFC 317 on June 28 in Las Vegas — as part of the UFC’s annual International Fight Week.
The expectation had been (and still is) that Ilia Topuria would be involved in the main event for a lightweight title fight — either against Islam Makhachev or Charles Oliveira.
But on X (formerly Twitter) on May 11, one champion spoke up about supposedly receiving an opportunity to headline the card — UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev.
Ankalaev’s next fight is expected to be a rematch with former champion Alex Pereira, and Ankalaev claims that such a rematch was offered to him for one of the UFC’s biggest annual events. Ankalaev defeated Pereira to win the UFC’s 205-pound title at UFC 313 in March.
Ankalaev says he is still up for competing at the event — even if he suggests Pereira might not be.
I was offered to Fight Alex international fight week if the man don’t want it let’s move on I’m ready for everyone. I dare you.
— Muhammad big ANK Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM) May 11, 2025
Magomed Ankalaev Suggests He’s Ready, Was Offered To Fight At UFC 317
This comes just a couple of days after Pereira’s own account had a post that claimed he was being mistreated by the promotion — only for Pereira to make another post hours later claiming his account was hacked.
Dana White, UFC’s CEO, seemed to confirm earlier this week that the plan for UFC 317’s headline bout would have been Topuria vs. Makachev (with a win for Belal Muhammad at UFC 315) or Topuria vs. Oliveira (with a win by Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 315).
JDM won the welterweight title this weekend, with people subsequently assuming that the result would be Makhachev moving up to welterweight and Topuria and Oliveira fighting for a vacant title next month.
But White did not show up to the UFC 315 post-fight press conference, and UFC executive David Shaw claims the main event should be announced within the coming days.
What might not be helping this would-have-been-simple layout — Makhachev insisting he’s moving up to challenge JDM and be a double champion, not desiring to vacate the lightweight title.
What initially appeared to be a sign of tension between Alex Pereira and the UFC may have been a misunderstanding.
In just a few years, Pereira has ascended to become one of the UFC’s most celebrated and consistent stars, etching his name among the sport’s elite. In only seven fights across two years, the Brazilian powerhouse exceeded expectations and claimed championship titles in two weight classes.
In 2024, “Poatan” became the UFC’s ultimate backup plan, stepping in on short notice to save two of the promotion’s most high-profile events. First, he rose to the challenge at UFC 300 in April, facing Jamahal Hill, and then again at UFC 303 during International Fight Week against Jiří Procházka. On both occasions, the former two division champion not only delivered but triumphed.
On Wednesday, a confusing post from Pereira’s official X account surfaced, hinting at a potential fallout with the UFC and suggesting he might be considering retirement. The post stirred widespread speculation among fans and media alike.
“I always answered the UFC’s calls, but if they want to play with me, we can do that. I’ve never spoken poorly of the UFC but with what I’ve just heard I’m disheartened. I’ve already had thoughts of not fighting anymore, and after what was just relayed to me this may be the start.”
The post sparked widespread speculation within the MMA community about what might have specifically triggered Pereira’s frustration with the UFC — whether it was opponent selection, fight timing, contract negotiations, or another underlying issue.
However, “Poatan” recently took to Instagram to deny making the statement, claiming that his account had been compromised.
“I’ve received a ton of messages, getting messages from everyone, who saw a post from my Twitter,” Alex Pereira said in Portuguese. I didn’t even know about it, I was hacked. It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything, you guys see. But I was hacked and I’ll resolve it. I don’t even know what’s going on. I have a great relationship with UFC. People like to do bad things. That’s that. Chama.”
🚨 Alex Pereira says his X account has been HACKED and his relationship with the UFC is great
“I don’t even know what’s going on. I have a great relationship with the UFC.”
Khalil Rountree doesn’t believe newly crowned UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Magomed Ankalaev came up against the same beast that he did inside the Octagon.
During a recent interview with MMA Today, though, Rountree somewhat put the result down to an off night for Pereira, whom “The War Horse” suggested was way off the level of performance he displayed to retain the belt in Salt Lake City five months prior.
“It was hard for me to watch that fight and score it,” Rountree said. “The Alex that walked out that night was a different Alex than the one that fought me. My experience was watching that fight in frustration.
“I was kind of confused because I was expecting the same guy that came and fought me to go there and do the same thing. I wanted to see what that experience was like from the outside,” Rountree added.
During an appearance on Wednesday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Pereira had his chance to respond to that claim. Suffice it to say, he rejected any suggestion that he sought an illegal advantage on fight night.
“I absolutely didn’t put anything on my body. For me, that’s him trying to make an excuse to justify the fact that he trained a guy to take me down, but the guy got stuffed for 12 of his takedown attempts,” Alex Pereira said. “You didn’t do what you’re supposed to do, and now you’re trying to make excuses to justify that.”
Pereira will hope to showcase similar strength in the takedown defense department should his expected rematch with Ankalaev come to fruition later this year. Second time around, though, he’ll look to pair his usual striking dominance with it.
Earning a spot in the UFC through Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS) is a dream for many fighters, but one contract winner recently made the surprising decision to walk away from it.
However, on Tuesday, the 33-year-old Russian announced on The Ariel Helwani Show that he had decided to forgo the opportunity to sign with the UFC and will instead face reigning GLORY heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven in the main event of GLORY 100 on June 14.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t reach an agreement with UFC,” Vakhitov said through a translator. “Because they have their own protocol, but we still have good relations with them, so that’s it. Now we’re announcing a big fight against Rico Verhoeven. I think Rico doesn’t need to be [explained as an opponent] because he’s well known and, for sure, we wanted this fight a long time ago. For me, it’s a good opportunity to become a double champion, and it was in my mind a very long time ago.”
Vakhitov further weighed in on his decision, revealing that his choice to decline a potential UFC run was largely influenced by dissatisfaction with the promotion’s financial structure and strict contractual obligations.
“UFC always works off a standard contract after Dana White’s Contender Series. Unfortunately, we could not reach an agreement, or [there were] some things couldn’t agree [on]. When we got an offer [from GLORY] and we saw the news that all the Russian fighters are coming back to GLORY, we got an offer to fight against Rico and probably the possibility to become a double champion, we agreed very easily. And for sure, for good money, why not?”
Reports suggest that a standard DWCS contract includes a clause granting the UFC the power to lock a chosen fighter into a 20-month commitment spanning four bouts.
Vakhitov’s most recent kickboxing bout took place under the Muaythai Factory banner in February 2022, where he secured a unanimous decision victory over Pascal Touré.
🚨 BREAKING: RICO vs. ARTEM!
Rico Verhoeven vs. Artem Vakhitov for the Heavyweight World Title on June 14 at #GLORY100!
It would seem the ball is firmly already rolling when it comes to a second dance between newly crowned UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira.
Ankalaev made good on his promise to bring Pereira’s reign to an end at this month’s UFC 313 pay-per-view, which the pair headlined inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.
While “Poatan’s” takedown defense held firm, he was unable to establish his usual dominance in the striking realm and fell to a unanimous decision defeat on the scorecards.
Evidently, it hasn’t taken long for the promotion to begin organizing that.
While responding on X to suggestions Pereira fought compromised in the March 8 main event, Magomed Ankalaev claimed to have been offered his first defense against Pereira for this coming August.
Joe Rogan mentioned his team said that Alex fought with a broken hand and Norovirus, when fighters step in the cage nobody is 100%.
I was offered a rematch with him in August and I said yes, but if he is not ready I will fight whoever is next it doesn’t matter.
“Joe Rogan mentioned his team said that Alex fought with a broken hand and Norovirus, when fighters step in the cage nobody is 100%. I was offered a rematch with him in August and I said yes, but if he is not ready I will fight whoever is next it doesn’t matter.”
That timeline might come as a surprise to many, given the expectation that Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira would renew hostilities for the UFC’s annual October PPV event in Abu Dhabi.
Dana White’s official foray into boxing could bridge the gap to making a potential blockbuster crossover fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Alex Pereira a reality.
“The Cat” has hinted that he is nearing the final chapter of his boxing career, with just two fights left before calling it quits. His top priority is a rematch with Daniel Dubois for the IBF heavyweight title, as he sets his sights on reclaiming his status as the undisputed four-belt champion.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Unified King Oleksandr Usyk eyes 'show fight' with Alex Pereira… 😱
“We never say never about fighting the dangerous Alex Pereira, possibly partnered with Dana White,” Lapin said. “Dana’s move to boxing could open the door for more fights between boxers and current UFC stars.
“Dana is a capable guy, and with Turki’s abilities, they would create a very interesting project. It will bring attention to our great sport, expand the fan base, attract new investment, and possibly increase the purses of the athletes.”
Although White permitted former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor to face boxing icon Floyd Mayweather in August 2017, which became a historic event, he has traditionally opposed such crossover bouts. Whether the UFC top brass has had a change of heart remains to be seen.
“The Cat” was last in action this past December, when he put on a masterful performance against Tyson Fury in their rematch. He successfully retained his WBC, WBA, and WBO heavyweight titles with a unanimous decision victory.
Meanwhile, Alex Pereira’s reign as the 205-pound champion came to an end at UFC 313 earlier this month, as he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Magomed Ankalaev.
“Poatan” has a deep-rooted history in boxing, boasting an extensive amateur background and even earning a professional victory in July 2017 with a TKO win over Marcelo de Souza Cruz.
Tom Aspinall is perplexed by the scoring decisions in the MMA community that favored Alex Pereira in the UFC 313 main event.
Earlier this month, Magomed Ankalaev defeated Pereira by unanimous decision to become light heavyweight champion at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The scoring of the UFC 313 main event was highly contested, with media members and fans divided. On MMA Decisions. nine members scored the bout for Pereira, which Aspinall finds incomprehensible.
And the interim heavyweight champ was similarly baffled by those who branded the March 8 main event “boring.”
“I think Ankalaev just had him guessing a lot,” Aspinall said in an interview with JNMediaUK. “I think Pereira’s level on the ground, I don’t know what level he’s at, but I think he’s still a bit wary of getting taken down. He definitely defended the takedowns well, but me with an educated eye watching it, I don’t think Ankalaev was really trying to take him down that much. He definitely tried a couple of times. I think he did 10 or 11 takedown attempts, but I would say only two or three of them he went full blast.
“I think the rest of the time, he was trying to tire him out with the grappling standing, like the cage grappling stuff. I think Ankalaev had the perfect game plan. He didn’t overcommit, tired him out. I can’t believe people watched that fight and thought that Pereira won. It was just wild to me how many uneducated fans are out there and how many uneducated fans thought it was a boring fight, as well. I thought it was an amazing fight, both guys did good, and I think Ankalaev was just a lot better than him on the night. That’s it.”
Despite Alex Pereira’s recent loss, which potentially benefits Tom Aspinall as he awaits his title unification fight with Jon Jones, Aspinall believes Pereira could still transition to the heavyweight division in the future.
“He can do whatever he wants, can’t he? He’s an absolute megastar,” Aspinall said. “I think there’s fights to be made at middleweight, light heavy or heavy for him. He can do whatever he wants.”
