Alex Pereira regained his light-heavyweight title from Magomed Ankalaev in shocking fashion at UFC 320, stopping the Russian in the very first round.
Pereira needed barely over one minute to score a TKO, having backed Ankalaev up to the fence in an aggressive start. The Brazilian star, famed for his power, stunned Ankalaev with a right hook, forcing the champion into a desperate takedown attempt.
But Pereira, 38, denied the 33-year-old and poured on ground and pound in the form of numerous hammer fists and elbows. That led referee Herb Dean to step in and wave off the contest, as “Poatan” earned his vengeance.
Back in March, Ankalaev outpointed Pereira to take the 205lb crown from the fan favourite, but the Russian’s reign proved short-lived, coming to an abrupt end at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas – where the rivals first duelled, in fact.
And in Saturday’s co-main event, Merab Dvalishvili retained his bantamweight belt against Cory Sandhagen, winning on points to record a third successful title defence this year. Follow UFC 320 updates and results live, below.
UFC 320 live: Pereira vs Ankalaev 2
- Alex Pereira knocks out Magomed Ankalaev in round one to regain light-heavyweight title
- Russia’s Ankalaev had dethroned Brazilian in March, winning first fight via decision
- Merab Dvalishvili outpoints Cory Sandhagen to retain bantamweight belt for third time in 2025
- Jiri Prochazka battles back to stop Khalil Rountree Jr in chaotic ending to fight of the night
- Joe Pyfer submits Abus Magomedov with rear naked choke in impressive comeback
- Youssef Zalal earns rapid win over Josh Emmett with armbar in first two minutes
UFC 320 report: Alex Pereira crushes Magomed Ankalaev to earn emphatic revenge
07:30 , Alex Pattle
Alex Pereira crushes Magomed Ankalaev to earn shocking revenge at UFC 320
UFC 320 live: Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev 2
07:15 , Alex PattleWalking out as the champ 🏆
— UFC (@ufc) October 5, 2025
[ #UFC320 | @AlexPereiraUFC ] pic.twitter.com/qr6422OG7b
UFC 320 live: Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev 2
07:00 , Alex PattleThere's only one Poatan 🏆@AlexPereiraUFC earns his belt back quickly tonight at #UFC320 🗿 pic.twitter.com/1yr5jPPRqM
— UFC (@ufc) October 5, 2025
UFC 320 live: Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev 2
06:45 , Alex PattleIT'S POATAN'S BELT 🗿🏆
— UFC (@ufc) October 5, 2025
Alex Pereira defeats Magomed Ankalaev at #UFC320 by TKO to become the light heavyweight champion of the world! pic.twitter.com/PunuLaXYMU
UFC 320 live: Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev 2
06:30 , Alex PattleCHAMA 🗿@AlexPereiraUFC gets his belt back via first round TKO tonight in the rematch at #UFC320 🏆 pic.twitter.com/dwNu8Xumla
— UFC (@ufc) October 5, 2025
UFC 320 live: Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev 2
06:18 , Alex Pattle
UFC 320 live: Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev 2
06:10 , Alex Pattle
UFC 320 live: Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev 2
06:02 , Alex PattlePereira taunted Ankalaev after the TKO, and the Russian appeared to chirp back at him...
UFC 320 live: Alex Pereira stuns Magomed Ankalaev with early TKO
05:56 , Alex PattleAlex Pereira def. Magomed Ankalaev via first-round TKO (right hook and ground and pound, 1:20)
UFC 320 live: Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev 2
05:50 , Alex PattleRound one
An intense staredown, but a touch of gloves.
Pereira gets right after Ankalaev, swinging hooks with intent! Ankalaev with a series of front kicks to the body, in a bid to deter the Brazilian.
Not deterred! Pereira stuns Ankalaev with a right hook, and the Russian shoots for a takedown in desperation!
Pereira denies him and pours on ground and pound! Elbow after elbow, hammer fist after hammer fist, and ref Herb Dean has to stop it!
MY WORD, PEREIRA VIA FIRST-ROUND TKO!
UFC 320 live: Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev 2
05:45 , Alex PattleProchazka, fresh off his win over Rountree Jr, stands close by to cast an eye over Ankalaev.
Carlos Ulberg is also in the crowd, watching on.
One of those two will surely be next for the winner of this bout.
Jiri Prochazka staring down Magomed Ankalaev during his walkout 😳🥶 #UFC320pic.twitter.com/33uVzFImoE
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 5, 2025
UFC 320 live: Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev 2
05:41 , Alex PattleA good reception for Pereira, who enters the cage first, as the challenger. Boos now, as Ankalaev is shown on the big screen beginning his walkout.
UFC 320 live: Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev 2
05:36 , Alex PattleMany fans were waiting for a moment that would never come. They were waiting for a moment they had been conditioned – by the granite knuckles and shins of Alex Pereira – to expect, and yet instead, seconds and minutes ticked by. So accustomed to seeing “Poatan” live up to his “Stone Hands” moniker and crush opponents like a pestle in a mortar, they instead watched sands slip through the hourglass of his title defence against Magomed Ankalaev.
And indeed, each timely strike from Ankalaev was a grain upon a grain upon a grain, until there was (or should have been) no disputing the reality: the Russian light-heavyweight had simply outfought Pereira, validated by a unanimous-decision win. The 49-46 scorecard was fairest, while the two 48-47s flattered Pereira; and still, there were some fans who protested on behalf of Pereira.
Truthfully, the Brazilian was not especially close on that March night in Las Vegas’s T-Mobile Arena: not close to landing the knockout shot, and not close enough to Ankalaev to rein in the ever-stretching lead forged by the Russian.
Now, the rivals return to the T-Mobile Arena. Read our main-event preview, as the ring walks begin!
The uncomfortable truth behind Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev’s crucial rematch
UFC 320 live: Merab Dvalishvili vs Cory Sandhagen
05:26 , Alex PattleMerab Dvalishvili (C) def. Cory Sandhagen via unanimous decision (49-45, 49-45, 49-46)
As expected, Merab gets it done, four rounds to one in the eyes of every judge – and two of the three giving him a 10-8 in the second round.
Credit to Sandhagen, who fought very well, but Merab extends his win streak to 14. That’s a third successful title defence, and a third in 10 months!
He’s three wins shy of the outright record for the longest streak in UFC history.
UFC 320 live: Merab Dvalishvili vs Cory Sandhagen
05:22 , Alex PattleRound five
Merab presses forward and scores with straight punches. Sandhagen with a well-timed knee to the body. Merab with yet another single-leg takedown, but he still can’t keep “Sandman” down.
Good cross from Merab, who grabs a body lock as Sandhagen misses with a hook. Sandhagen stands, separates, and lands a spinning back kick to the body. Lovely strike.
Merab with a knee to the body. Sandhagen with a one-two upstairs. Two minutes left. Trip by Merab, who lands in full guard. He seeks an arm-triangle, but abandons it.
He’s content to control Sandhagen, who continues to defend well. Big right hook by Sandhagen after he stands and gets free!
The buzzer sounds, and that’s that.
UFC 320 live: Merab Dvalishvili vs Cory Sandhagen
05:16 , Alex PattleRound four
In trademark fashion, Merab bounces around, showing no signs of tiredness.
Sandhagen can’t quite land clean in the striking exchanges, as shown when he throws a body kick, which is caught and turned into a single-leg.
More good grappling defence by Sandhagen, who moves back into the open. Good left uppercut to the body.
Merab crashes forward and clinches, but Sandhagen shrugs him off then wings a right and left hand – to no avail.
One-two lands hard this time! But Merab seems unfazed?!
He trips Sandhagen, who rolls through but is caught in a D’Arce in the scramble... He survives to the buzzer!
Better round for the American.
UFC 320 live: Merab Dvalishvili vs Cory Sandhagen
05:09 , Alex PattleRound three
Sandhagen looks calm, he’s staying composed. He’s done a lot well so far, so he mustn’t get discouraged. Easier said than done, mind you.
No wrestling from Merab in the first two minutes of round three. Some even striking exchanges. But there’s the single-leg into a body lock.
Once again, Sandhagen frees himself. But another single-leg gives way to a trip. Again Sandhagen stands and gets free!
Sandhagen chases Merab with punches. He’s tripped following yet ANOTHER single-leg, but yet AGAIN he stands. It’s a cycle.
UFC 320 live: Merab Dvalishvili vs Cory Sandhagen
05:03 , Alex PattleRound two
Sandhagen is actually bleeding from around his nose and left brow. He defends another single-leg well in the early phases of round two, but Merab gets to the back then trips him.
Sandhagen pops back up against the fence. He gets free and immediately jabs to the body. Merab lands during a blitz, though, and he’s landing more in a prolonged flurry here!!
Sandhagen goes down! What is happening?! Merab is beating the striker at his own game! It’s much less refined, but it’s working!
The ref thinks about stepping in...
Now Merab hauls Sandhagen to the mat. But Sandhagen might actually appreciate a moment’s respite from the punches.
Merab with ground and pound, while Sandhagen tries to use his long legs to keep the Georgian at bay.
After such a strong start, Sandhagen finds himself on the wrong end of a dominant round.
UFC 320 live: Merab Dvalishvili vs Cory Sandhagen
04:57 , Alex PattleRound one
Sandhagen takes the centre of the cage, but he’s soon backed up. He aims to fight behind the jab, while throwing low kicks as well.
Sandhagen with a decent counter hook as Merab darts in, putting the champ off balance. Another left hook from Sandhagen, then a combination upstairs and a low kick.
When will Merab wrestle? There’s a single-leg, but Sandhagen defends it! Good rear uppercut by Sandhagen. Merab with a cross.
Sandhagen again defends a single-leg, but Merab switches to a body lock and drives the American to the fence.
Impressive start by Sandhagen, but this is the area where the fight will be won and lost... and Merab hauls down the challenger! Sandhagen is back up, though, and soon free from the Georgian’s grip!
Two right hands land for Sandhagen, and another low kick. He switches stances back and forth. Body lock by Merab, defended well by Sandhagen. Both land strikes in the clinch.
Sandhagen times a knee to the body as Merab enters. First round to the challenger, and with very impressive signs!!
UFC 320 live: Merab Dvalishvili vs Cory Sandhagen
04:46 , Alex PattleDvalishvili, sporting sunglasses and dancing, emerges to a great reception and joins Sandhagen in the cage. The champ is all smiles.
UFC 320 live: Inside Sandhagen’s ‘mission improbable’ to dethrone Dvalishvili
04:38 , Alex PattleNext up is the co-main event...
The debate has always been Dominick Cruz versus TJ Dillashaw. Now, there’s a new contender for bantamweight GOAT. As he embarks on his latest UFC title defence, Merab Dvalishvili could be about to cement his status of all-time greatness.
Dvalishvili has gone from underrated to undeniable. He wasn’t pegged as bantamweight’s next best thing when he first entered the spotlight, with back-to-back losses in his first UFC two fights instead having him touted for the cut. Thirteen wins later and the Georgian mauler is spearheading a reign of terror at 135lb.
The 34-year-old has brushed off four ex-world champions on his way to the top, scraping the scalps of Jose Aldo, Petr Yan and Henry Cejudo before dethroning and conquering the man groomed as the division’s future, Sean O’Malley.
Now, he squares off against proven contender Cory Sandhagen, the American striker straight out of Street Fighter, in one of the most important fights of the year.
Co-main event preview by Will Castle:
Inside Cory Sandhagen’s ‘mission improbable’ to deny Merab Dvalishvili GOAT status
UFC 320 live: Jiri Prochazka vs Khalil Rountree Jr
04:30 , Alex PattleJiri Prochazka def. Khalil Rountree Jr via third-round KO (strikes, 3:04)
UFC 320 live: Jiri Prochazka vs Khalil Rountree Jr
04:28 , Alex PattleRound three
That was a closer round, but likely still Rountree’s. He could well be 20-18 up. Either way, Prochazka must surely win this round to be confident.
A wild start to the final frame! Both men are throwing with intent.
Prochazka is storming forward with wide hooks here, perhaps realising the urgency he needs! He starts to land with increasing accuracy, and Rountree retreats!
Rountree is swollen around his right eye, he’s stumbling backwards and sideways. Can Prochazka get the stoppage??
Rountree clinches, but Prochazka lands an elbow and knee! Another knee to the body!
Prochazka tires, though, falling into a guillotine attempt by Rountree! Nothing there, but both men land elbows. This is the war we expected, now.
Rountree’s face is a bloody mess, and he FACEPLANTS from a left hook! It’s all OVER! WOW!
UFC 320 live: Jiri Prochazka vs Khalil Rountree Jr
04:23 , Alex PattleRound two
An early right hook by Rountree Jr frustrates Prochazka. Nice spinning elbow by him, though! Rountree comes back with a cross.
Prochazka’s footwork has been very odd, very jerky. It’s like he’s trying to burst forward, but his feet are sticking to the mat.
Wide right hook tags Prochazka...
A relative period of inactivity here, before Prochazka starts to blitz forward. Messy coming-togethers ensue.
Front kick to the body by Prochazka. Headshots on point for both men. Another body kick by Rountree, who’s breathing heavily.
The end of the round is tit-for-tat.
UFC 320 live: Jiri Prochazka vs Khalil Rountree Jr
04:17 , Alex PattleRound one
Rountree Jr stands southpaw; Prochazka switches stances back and forth early on. Lots of jerky movements and feints already, from both men.
Prochazka paws at Rountree’s lead hand repeatedly, as if he’s trying to catch it. The Czech kicks low, and Rountree fires back with a one-two up top.
Prochazka misses with a head kick, and narrowly with a teep kick to the body. Hard right hook to the body by Rountree.
Left straight stings Prochazka! His hands are low, as they tend to be. Heavy body kick by Rountree, then a low one. And another.
Jiri misses with a flying knee and gets tagged with a hook! He just blocks a head kick. “USA” chants echo around the arena in Vegas.
A very good first round for Rountree, who punctuates it with a hooked one-two late on!
UFC 320 live: Jiri Prochazka vs Khalil Rountree Jr
03:55 , Alex PattleNext up is most fans’ pick for Fight of the Night: a light-heavyweight appetiser for the 205lb main event, as Jiri Prochazka faces Khalil Rountree Jr.
Although Prochazka was stopped by Pereira twice in title fights, and although Rountree suffered the same fate one year ago, the winner of this bout could be next for the main-event victor.
Of course, that may well be Ankalaev, in which case Prochazka or Rountree would represent a fresh challenge.
The Czech and the American both enter this clash on the back of respective wins against ex-champion Jamahal Hill.
Prochazka himself is a former champion, too.
Both men are in the cage. Here we go. Expect chaos
UFC 320 live: Josh Emmett vs Youssef Zalal
03:52 , Alex PattleRound one
Zalal stands southpaw; Emmett is orthodox. The latter carries devastating power; can he produce it at the right time tonight?
He actually rushes forward and is met with a double-leg takedown! Zalal tries to swing himself to the back, where he’ll settle with one hook for now.
He’s eyeing an arm-triangle choke.
In a scramble, he begins to attack an armbar... and he gets the tap! Wow! It’s over already.
Was it a verbal tap? It was hard to see a physical one, but it could’ve been the camera angle...
Youssef Zalal def. Josh Emmet via first-round submission (armbar, 1:38)
UFC 320 live: Josh Emmett vs Youssef Zalal
03:38 , Alex PattleFeatherweight action up next!
Former interim title challenger Josh Emmett fights Youssef Zalal.
Emmett aims to bounce back from a points loss to Lerone Murphy, while Zalal seeks an eighth straight win.
UFC 320 live: Abus Magomedov vs Joe Pyfer
03:32 , Alex PattleJoe Pyfer def. Abus Magomedov via second-round submission (rear naked choke, 1:44)
UFC 320 live: Abus Magomedov vs Joe Pyfer
03:29 , Alex PattleRound two
Pyfer gets right after Magomedov, winging big shots again, and the German falls to the canvas! He was trying to move away, and I think he half-stumbled / was half-dropped!
Pyfer lands in side control, then passes into mount, then steps over again as he tries an arm-triangle choke...
Magomedov survives! But he has his back taken, and Pyfer attacks a rear naked choke... He’s switching between strikes and seeking the choke...
And he locks it in, with Magomedov tapping right away!!
UFC 320 live: Abus Magomedov vs Joe Pyfer
03:26 , Alex PattleRound one
Both men stand orthodox. Each looks HUGE in there. They’re bouncing, staying light on their feet.
Pyfer dips under a punch and shoots for a double-leg at once, but Magomedov secures overhooks and neutralises the American.
Nice trip by Pyfer, but Magomedov rolls through and lands on top! Sharp elbow in there, ouch. Magomedov has half-guard now.
Pyfer throws up a triangle choke after they move to closed guard, but to no avail. More strikes from above by Magomedov, who then takes the back. Pyfer stands with the German on his back, and gets dragged back down.
Magomedov briefly tries an armbar, but he can’t finish it, so he scrambles into side control. He stands and attacks a guillotine... No joy.
Some success for hinm in the striking now, though. Pyfer wings a couple of hooks, but they don’t quite land clean.
UFC 320 live: Abus Magomedov vs Joe Pyfer
03:17 , Alex PattleOkay! The main card is upon us. Abus Magomedov vs Joe Pyfer is up first, at middleweight.
Rising star Pyfer seems to have gotten his mojo back after a loss to veteran Jack Hermansson in early 2024. Last June, he knocked out Marc-Andre Barriault, before outpointing Kelvin Gastelum 12 months later.
Meanwhile, Magomedov is riding a three-fight win streak heading into this one, so he’ll be confident as well.
UFC 320 live: Main card up next
02:51 , Alex PattleSo, just the main card to go!
A reminder of the remaining fights tonight, from first to last:
Abus Magomedov vs Joe Pyfer (middleweight)
Josh Emmett vs Youssef Zalal (featherweight)
Jiri Prochazka vs Khalil Rountree Jr (light-heavyweight)
Merab Dvalishvili (C) vs Cory Sandhagen (bantamweight title)
Magomed Ankalaev (C) vs Alex Pereira 2 (light-heavyweight title)
UFC 320 live: Ateba Gautier vs Treston Vines
02:41 , Alex PattleOne more prelim fight to go! Ateba Gautier takes on Treston Vines at middleweight, as the latter steps in for Ozzy Diaz on late notice.
Round one
Gautier presses forward early, with Vines skipping laterally around the Octagon. He’s covered a lot of ground already!
Vines finally comes forward, trying a double-leg, but he’s caught with a knee on the way in! He drops to his backside but springs back up.
Credit to him, he goes for another takedown, but Gautier defends well against the fence and even elbows Vines repeatedly as the latter grabs his hips, and that’s the start of the end!
More elbows from Gautier, and Vines drops to the canvas, with referee Marc Goddard soon stopping in!
Ateba Gautier def. Treston Vines via first-round TKO (elbows, 1:41)
UFC 320 live: Daniel Santos vs Joo Sang Yoo
02:20 , Alex PattleWe’ll move up to a 153lb catchweight bout next, as Daniel Santos takes on Joo Sang Yoo.
Round one
Santos drives forward and takes down Yoo near the fence. Santos holds him there for some time, with the crowd booing as it grows restless, but Yoo does well to stand.
Now Santos backs him up again, but he’s getting peppered with punches as he does. Nice counter hook by Santos, but he ate a few straight shots in there.
Round two
Oh! Out of nowhere, Santos scores a TKO early in round two!!
A long left hook drops Yoo, with Santos’s follow-up right hand just missing, and the resultant ground and pound leads referee Herb Dean to step in.
Daniel Santos def. Joo Sang Yoo via first-round TKO (punch and ground and pound, 0:24)
UFC 320 live: Patchy Mix vs Jakub Wiklacz
02:00 , Alex PattleJakub Wiklacz def. Patchy Mix via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
A close fight, with the second round the swing round, but Mix falls to 0-2 in the UFC since debuting this year. Not a good start for the highly-touted ex-Bellator champion, although he was arguably unlucky not to win tonight.
UFC 320 live: Patchy Mix vs Jakub Wiklacz
01:56 , Alex PattleRound three
An early takedown for Mix in round three, and YET ANOTHER failed guillotine by Wiklacz.
Mix again seeks an arm-triangle but can’t get past the full guard of his opponent.
He manages to do some damage with ground and pound, though! He cuts open Wiklacz, who is bleeding across his forehead and onto the canvas!
A long period of control from Mix here. Wiklacz can’t escape so decides to throw elbows and punches from below.
He twists and has his back taken in the final seconds of the fight. We’ll go to the scorecards.
Jakub Wiklacz def. Patchy Mix via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
A close fight, with the second round the swing round, but Mix falls to 0-2 in the UFC since debuting this year. Not a good start for the highly-touted ex-Bellator champion, although he was arguably unlucky not to win tonight.
UFC 320 live: Patchy Mix vs Jakub Wiklacz
01:50 , Alex PattleRound two
Mix, standing southpaw, presses forward but eats a slew of straight punches. He eventually manages to lift and dump Wiklacz, who again goes to the well with a guillotine in defence.
For the third time, it doesn’t work. Next time, Wiklacz needs to learn and refrain from trying the choke. Still, he scrambles and stands.
He looks tired, breathing with his mouth open, but so does Mix, who eats an elbow!
Well, Wiklacz was doing good work until Mix grabbed ahold of him; this time, Wiklacz tries a JUMPING guillotine. Surprise surprise, it doesn’t work, and he’s taken down.
That said, he again neutralises Mix with a closed guard and manages to stand. Can he now do more damage on the feet?
He lands a stabbing front kick but eats a southpaw cross. And another. Another body kick from Wiklacz, and Mix complains of a low blow... Brief pause here.
Back under way. Knees from Wiklacz in the clinch, but Mix gets off some uppercuts.
UFC 320 live: Patchy Mix vs Jakub Wiklacz
01:43 , Alex PattleRight, down to the men’s bantamweight division now, where Patchy Mix seeks his first UFC win in his second bout with the promotion. The former Bellator star fights Jakub Wiklacz next.
Round one
Mix shoots for a double-leg takedown and drives Wiklacz to the fence. Wiklacz tries to defend with a guillotine, but Mix is able to get him down and tries to pass the guard.
Wiklacz does a decent job of defending, with Mix seemingly seeking an arm-triangle; he needs to get into mount or at least half-guard for that to work, but Wiklacz is holding closed guard.
And now a nice scramble by Wiklacz to stand! But he’s dumped right back down. Again he tries a guillotine in defence, but again it fails.
A transition or two later, however, Wiklacz ends up on top in half-guard, and he gets to work on advancing his position! Somewhere in there, he lands a slashing elbow from above!
UFC 320 live: Edmen Shahbazyan vs Andre Muniz
01:23 , Alex PattleRound one
Good sprawl from Shahbazyan to deny Muniz a takedown. Shahbazyan then backs up the southpaw and gets off a couple of good strikes, but he can’t fully capitalise on Muniz being against the fence.
Out in the open and there are a few messy exchanges, with neither middleweight landing too many clean punches, although Muniz invests fairly well in low kicks.
Hard body kick late in the round by Muniz, then a trio of straight punches. Again, they don’t land too clean, nor does a follow-up uppercut.
Oh!! With 20 seconds to go, Shabayzan wobbles Muniz with a check left hook, and Muniz drops to the canvas!
Shahbazyan pours on elbows to secure the TKO JUST before the buzzer! Great timing!
Edmen Shahbazyan def. Andre Muniz via first-round KO (punch and ground and pound, 4:58)
UFC 320 live: Early-prelim results; regular prelims begin
01:05 , Alex PattleEarly-prelim results in full:
Punahele Soriano def. Nikolay Veretennikov via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Yana Santos def. Macy Chiasson via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Farid Basharat def. Chris Gutierrez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Ramiz Brahimaj def. Austin Vanderford via second-round submission (guillotine choke, 2:24)
Veronica Hardy def. Brogan Walker via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
UFC 320 live: Pereira brands Ankalaev a ‘coward’ in recent run-in
Sunday 5 October 2025 00:20 , Alex PattleNew footage emerged last week, showing Pereira branding Ankalaev a “coward” ahead of their title rematch.
Pereira came across the Russian at the UFC Performance Institute in Vegas, before Ankalaev shared footage of the run-in on his Instagram story.
“No need for empty talk,” Ankalaev told Pereira via a translator. “We’ll settle this on 4 October. Let’s do it in the ring. Why waste words?”
Pereira, also speaking via a translator, retorted: “I never said anything; he talked. Now he comes out of nowhere and we’re face to face, you’re a coward.”
More here:
New footage sees Alex Pereira brand Magomed Ankalaev a ‘coward’ in UFC run-in
UFC 320 live: Ankalaev coach makes startling Pereira claim
Sunday 5 October 2025 00:10 , Alex PattleMagomed Ankalaev’s coach has remarkably played down the threat of Alex Pereira’s power, as the light-heavyweights prepare to clash again tonight.
Ankalaev will defend the 205lb title against Pereira, whom he dethroned with a decision win in March. On that occasion, the well-rounded Russian was too sharp for the former kickboxing champion, who could not find the kind of knockout shot that has felled so many opponents.
Still, Pereira is known as one of the hardest hitters in the UFC, and his power secured him the middleweight title before he moved up to light-heavyweight and won a second belt. Seven of his nine UFC wins have come via KO/TKO, including five stoppages of four ex-champions.
Yet Ankalaev’s coach Sukhrab Magomedov has played down that element of Pereira’s game, saying on the UFC Countdown show: “Powerful punch? Alex has a punch, but not the kind that can really knock you out.”
More here:
Magomed Ankalaev coach makes startling Alex Pereira claim ahead of UFC 320 clash
UFC 320 live: Pereira vs Ankalaev 2
Saturday 4 October 2025 22:59 , Alex PattleTonight, Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev will meet in a fight not just for the UFC light-heavyweight title, but potentially the future of the 205lb division.
In the main event of UFC 320, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Pereira will try to reclaim the belt from Ankalaev, having suffered a decision defeat by the Russian in the same venue in March. The well-rounded Ankalaev, 33, was simply too sharp for Pereira on that occasion, out-striking the former kickboxing champion to end his scintillating title reign.
Pereira, who did display impressive takedown defence in March’s fight, had won three straight title defences prior to that loss, stopping formers champions Jamahal Hill and Jiri Prochazka before knocking out Khalil Rountree Jr.
Now, the Brazilian aims to start a second reign with the light-heavyweight crown – and third UFC title reign overall, having previously held middleweight gold – but the 38-year-old faces a tough test in what could be a tense rematch.
A surprising level of antagonism has emerged in this rivalry, with Ankalaev’s coach accusing Pereira of “greasing” in their first fight, and Pereira labelling the new champion a “coward” after a face-to-face run-in last week.
And in tonight’s co-main event, Merab Dvalishvili defends his bantamweight belt against Cory Sandhagen, eyeing a third successful title defence this year.
Follow UFC 320 updates and results live, right here.
