Pereira Needed Just Eighty Seconds to Take the Belt Back
Alex Pereira defeated Magomed Ankalaev by first-round technical knockout at UFC 320 on October 4, 2025, in Las Vegas. The finish at 1:20 returned the light heavyweight championship to Pereira after his decision defeat in their first meeting seven months earlier.
The return meeting demanded a different opening
Ankalaev had taken the title by unanimous decision at UFC 313 on March 8. That result gave the second fight a straightforward championship question: whether Pereira could reclaim the belt from the opponent who had beaten him over five rounds.
Pereira answered by advancing immediately. His urgency reduced Ankalaev’s opportunity to establish the measured pace that had characterized their earlier contest.
A right hand opened the finishing sequence
Pereira landed a powerful right hand that hurt Ankalaev and sent him down. The Brazilian followed rather than allowing the champion space to recover and reset.
Punches, hammerfists and elbows followed on the ground. Referee Herb Dean intervened as Pereira continued striking, bringing the scheduled five-round championship contest to an end after eighty seconds.
The title changed hands through a decisive stoppage
The result returned Pereira to the top of the division and gave each fighter one victory in their two meetings. The manner of the rematch victory differed sharply from the first bout’s judges’ decision.
Pereira’s finish also closed a card on which Merab Dvalishvili retained the bantamweight title against Cory Sandhagen. In the main event, however, the championship changed hands through sustained offense before the opening round was halfway complete.
Sources
- MMA Fighting: finishing sequence
- Associated Press: rematch background and championship outcome
- UFC: event and official result
