In a thunderous display of precision and power, Alex “Poatan” Pereira reclaimed his UFC light heavyweight title at UFC 320, dispatching Magomed Ankalaev in just 80 seconds inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It wasn’t just a win — it was a statement.
Pereira didn’t just defeat the man who beat him earlier this year. He destroyed him. The knockout was violent, sudden, and definitive. UFC 320 will be remembered as the night Poatan returned to reign.
Redemption Comes Fast and Brutal
Back in March, Pereira lost a lackluster decision to Ankalaev, later revealing he had been battling both a broken hand and a virus. Many shrugged it off as excuses.
This time, there were no doubts. From the opening bell, Pereira imposed his will. He attacked with aggressive low kicks, forcing Ankalaev on the backfoot. Less than a minute in, a clean right hook shook the Russian, who panicked and shot for a takedown. Pereira sprawled, swarmed, and delivered a ruthless combination of punches and vertical elbows, leaving referee Herb Dean with no choice but to stop the fight.
“I said I wasn’t healthy the first time. Nobody believed me. Tonight, you saw what I meant.”
— Alex Pereira, post-fight
Pereira then stood over his fallen opponent, taunting him in a cold and calculated callback to his infamous moment after knocking out Jamahal Hill at UFC 300.
The Legend Grows
With this victory, Pereira becomes:
- A three-time UFC champion
- 6 knockouts in 8 UFC title fights
- 14-3 overall in MMA
- Arguably the most dangerous striker in UFC history
He has now competed in title fights in eight of his twelve UFC appearances — a run that includes wins over Israel Adesanya, Jamahal Hill, and now Magomed Ankalaev.
Pereira also paused post-fight to honor Arthur Jones, the late brother of UFC legend Jon Jones, who passed away a day before the event. It was a rare moment of silence on a night dominated by chaos and carnage.
Ankalaev’s Streak Ends in Disaster
Magomed Ankalaev entered UFC 320 on a 14-fight unbeaten streak and as the betting favorite. But he was never in the fight.
Pereira’s early aggression caught him off guard, and his takedown attempt — usually a path to control — turned into a fatal error. The Russian never recovered from the first clean shot and was finished moments later.
His title reign ends before it truly began.
Merab Dvalishvili: Relentless and Record-Breaking
In the co-main event, Merab Dvalishvili defended his bantamweight title with a dominant decision win over Cory Sandhagen, setting a new UFC record with 20 takedowns in a single fight.
With scores of 49-45, 49-45, and 49-46, Dvalishvili continues his perfect 2025 campaign, now 3-0 with three title defenses. His pace, pressure, and cardio remain unmatched at 135 pounds.
UFC 320 Main Card Results
| Division | Result |
|---|---|
| Light Heavyweight Title | Alex Pereira def. Magomed Ankalaev via TKO (strikes) – R1, 1:20 |
| Bantamweight Title | Merab Dvalishvili def. Cory Sandhagen via unanimous decision |
| Light Heavyweight | Jiri Prochazka def. Khalil Rountree via TKO – R3, 3:04 |
| Featherweight | Youssef Zalal def. Josh Emmett via submission (armbar) – R1, 1:38 |
| Middleweight | Joe Pyfer def. Abus Magomedov via submission (rear-naked choke) – R2, 1:44 |
What’s Next for Pereira?
After reclaiming the belt in devastating fashion, Pereira hinted at a potential move to heavyweight and even floated the idea of facing Jon Jones in a superfight — possibly at the rumored White House UFC event Dana White is organizing for 2026.
Whether or not that dream matchup happens, one thing is certain:
The UFC is better when Alex Pereira is on top.
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