Is Alex Pereira back? No, in actuality, Alex Pereira never left.

Seven months after giving up his UFC light heavyweight title in a weak performance against Magomed Ankalaev, the unrelenting Brazilian fighter made a fierce statement at UFC 320 to reclaim it. Pereira destroyed Ankalaev with a vicious barrage of punches and elbows during a furious 80-second outburst inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. He punctuated his victory by standing over his downed opponent, a moment that quickly became a widely shared meme in the MMA community.

The decisive win puts Pereira (14-3) back at the top of the division, making him a three-time UFC champion and solidifying his place as one of the sport's most exciting personalities going into 2025.

“. I saw that in the first fight. I don't like to make excuses, but I've been saying I wasn't well that night — but tonight, I'm very well.  It didn't surprise me. I saw that in the first fight. I don't like to make excuses, but I've been saying I wasn't well that night — but tonight, I'm very well." Pereira said post-fight.

Alex Pereira, now 38, seems to have learnt every unpleasant lesson from his slow first meeting with 33-year-old Magomed Ankalaev. There was no waiting, no second-guessing, no uncertainty this time. Pereira rushed forward with deliberate aggression from the first bell, stopping Ankalaev's advances with massive low kicks that thudded against the Russian's legs and stopping his rhythm before it had a chance to develop. Less than a minute had gone by when Pereira sent Ankalaev spinning into a last-ditch, unsuccessful takedown attempt with a looping right hook flush on the chin.

Pereira, sensing blood in the water, moved in like a predator, launching a vicious round of powerful blows before launching a stream of jagged 12-to-6 elbows that struck Ankalaev in the head and torso. Referee Herb Dean was forced to wave the fight off due to the onslaught.

In a moment that was reminiscent of his taunting celebration following his savage first-round knockout of Jamahal Hill at UFC 300 in 2024, Pereira stood up as the audience surged, making a frigid, mocking gesture over his downed opponent.

Magomed Ankalaev's 14-fight unbeaten record, which had solidified his status as one of the division's most formidable powers, came to an abrupt stop with the shocking result. Ankalaev was viewed by many as an insurmountable barrier going into the fight, ranked No. 7 pound-for-pound by Uncrowned. However, Pereira dispelled that perception in less than two minutes. The Russian, who has dominated the light heavyweight division since his devastating, last-second loss to Paul Craig in his 2018 UFC debut, made a rare blunder.

In a rare moment of somberness following the mayhem, Pereira took the microphone and asked the boisterous Las Vegas audience to quiet down in remembrance of former NFL lineman Arthur Jones, the older brother of UFC legend Jon Jones, who died at the age of 39 the day before.

The win simply strengthens Pereira's already illustrious resume. He has now competed for a title in eight of his twelve UFC appearances since entering the Octagon in 2021. He was formerly a two-division kickboxing champion. He has a 6–2 record in those fights, with every victory coming via knockout, including his historic victory against Israel Adesanya in 2022 to win the UFC middleweight title.

The evening's co-main event featured UFC bantamweight king Merab Dvalishvili (21-4), who once again demonstrated why he is regarded as one of the sport's best by successfully defending both his title and his No. 3 pound-for-pound ranking with another record-breaking performance, this time against the seasoned and cunning Cory Sandhagen (18-6).

Dvalishvili set the pace from the beginning to the end, using his trademark wrestling superiority and unrelenting pressure to grind down Sandhagen. He defeated his opponent by a lopsided unanimous decision (49-45, 49-45, 49-46), setting a new UFC record with an incredible 20 takedowns. The victory completed the Georgian champion's perfect 2025 campaign, bringing his record to 3-0 overall—all in championship defenses.

Never one to sit on his laurels, Dvalishvili took the microphone following the bout and announced his intention to return to the Octagon before the year was up, with a December comeback in mind.

Stick with https://k8airdrop.com/ for more Sports, esport, games, news, guides, and more!

Discover the thrill of cutting-edge online slot games! Visit  http://k8.io/ now for an unparalleled gaming experience with the latest and greatest slot games.