Alex Pereira: "Poatan" Is Back and Better Than Ever

The UFC’s light heavyweight division has a new-old king. Just seven months after a lackluster defeat to Magomed Ankalaev that cost him his title, Alex Pereira showed the world he never truly left the top of the mountain. In an explosive and dominating performance on Saturday night, Pereira reclaimed his UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, knocking out Ankalaev in just 80 seconds.

In a stunning turn of events that shocked the T-Mobile Arena crowd, Pereira (14-3) unleashed a flurry of punches and 12-to-6 elbows that left Ankalaev (23-3) crumpled on the canvas. It was a statement performance from "Poatan," who quickly and emphatically erased the memories of his previous lackluster bout against the Russian. The win marked Pereira’s third UFC championship, further solidifying his legacy as one of the sport's most formidable and dynamic fighters.

At 38 years old, many wondered if Pereira's previous loss to Ankalaev a sign of a potential decline was. However, "Poatan" arrived at UFC 320 with a fresh mindset and a far more aggressive approach than the tentative one displayed in their first meeting. Pereira came out swinging from the opening bell, immediately taking the center of the cage and pressuring Ankalaev with hard low kicks and a forward-moving style that kept the former champion on the defensive.

It didn’t take long for Pereira to find his mark. Just under a minute into the fight, a looping right hook from Pereira caught Ankalaev clean, sending him to the canvas and prompting an immediate takedown attempt from the Russian. However, Ankalaev's desperation shot was futile as Pereira capitalized on the moment, following up with a devastating combination of punches and elbows that forced referee Herb Dean to step in and call for the stoppage.

"I told everyone I was not in a good condition last time. Nobody believed it. You saw it," Pereira said post-fight, referencing his claims that he had been dealing with a broken hand and norovirus when they met in March. "Tonight, I'm very well."

With this win, Pereira not only reclaims his title but also silences critics who doubted his ability to bounce back after the setback earlier this year. He is now a three-time UFC champion, joining an elite group of fighters in the sport’s history.

While Pereira stole the show, UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili (21-4) also put on a dominant performance in the co-main event. Dvalishvili faced off against perennial contender Cory Sandhagen (18-6) in a bout that saw the Georgian phenom break a UFC record for most takedowns in a single fight, landing 20. The fight ended in a lopsided unanimous decision (49-45, 49-45, 49-46), securing Dvalishvili’s third title defense in 2025. Afterward, Dvalishvili called for another fight in December, eager to keep his momentum going.