The light heavyweight championship fight between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira closed out UFC 320 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on a packed Saturday night. This was their highly anticipated second meeting, following Ankalaev’s victory earlier in the year at UFC 313, where he stunned Pereira to capture the 205-pound title. That loss pushed Pereira down the rankings to the No. 10 position, setting up this heated rematch with serious stakes on both sides.
Magomed Ankalaev entered this bout riding an impressive run. With a professional record of 21-1-1 (1 NC) and unbeaten in fourteen straight contests, he had overcome a rocky UFC debut to become one of the most reliable forces in the division. His calculated, methodical fighting style often didn’t win over crowds, but his dominance was hard to deny. A second win over Pereira would have closed their rivalry and opened doors to challengers like Jiri Prochazka, Khalil Rountree, and Carlos Ulberg, all waiting in line for a crack at the belt.
For Pereira, the picture was more complicated. His resume already boasted championship reigns in both middleweight and light heavyweight divisions, making him one of the UFC’s most marketable stars. “Poatan” also flirted with the idea of chasing history by testing the waters at heavyweight someday. That future ambition left fans wondering how driven he would be to avenge the loss from UFC 313. Saturday’s fight would provide the answer.
Round 1 — Instant Drama
Veteran referee Herb Dean was in charge of the action for this title rematch.
Pereira started aggressively, throwing sharp straight punches right out of the gate. His body language looked more confident than in their first encounter. A quick inside leg kick from him landed clean. Ankalaev responded with a stiff left hand that made Pereira take a step back. Moments later, Pereira launched a looping right that found its mark and clearly shook the champion.
Ankalaev tried to change levels for a takedown, reacting to the pressure, but Pereira stuffed it with ease. Smelling blood, Pereira swarmed him with a barrage of punches and elbows against the cage. Ankalaev covered up but failed to fire back, leaving Dean no choice but to step in.
The sudden finish sent the arena into a frenzy. Pereira’s comeback story added yet another shocking twist.
Official result: Alex Pereira def. Magomed Ankalaev via TKO (strikes), Round 1 (1:20)
This outcome immediately shakes up the top of the division. Pereira’s rapid win reclaims his championship status and reinforces his star power. Ankalaev’s lengthy unbeaten streak comes to an abrupt end, creating questions about what adjustments he might need for future matchups.
For Pereira, future possibilities are wide open. He can defend the belt against contenders like Jamahal Hill or Prochazka, or he could still chase the idea of becoming a three-division champion if he chooses to move up. His ability to bounce back so dramatically keeps his legend growing.
“Poatan” remains a marketable commodity for the UFC with championships in two divisions on his résumé, and there’s the possibility of chasing a third if Pereira decides to move up to heavyweight next.
Watch the highlights below:
ALEX FUCKING PEREIRA
NIGHT NIGHT @SpinninBackfist https://t.co/LmjCuL5CwR
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 5, 2025
IT’S POATAN’S BELT 🗿🏆
Alex Pereira defeats Magomed Ankalaev at #UFC320 by TKO to become the light heavyweight champion of the world! pic.twitter.com/PunuLaXYMU
— UFC (@ufc) October 5, 2025
CHAMA 🗿@AlexPereiraUFC gets his belt back via first round TKO tonight in the rematch at #UFC320 🏆 pic.twitter.com/dwNu8Xumla
— UFC (@ufc) October 5, 2025
