Could Alex Pereira reclaim the title he’d lost to Magomed Ankalaev earlier this year? Or would Ankalaev close the door on their rivalry and move on to bigger things as light heavyweight champion?
Those were the questions waiting to be answered in Saturday’s UFC 320 main event. They were answered inside of a round.
Off the opening bell, Pereira immediately moved in on the champ, putting the pressure on right out of the gate. Backing Ankalaev up the fence, he forced a takedown out of the Dagestani, hurting Magomed with an overhand right that had absolutely everything behind it. That takedown backfired, and Pereira got on top, dropping 12-6 elbows. Anakaev covered up, unable to do anything but absorb punishment. Before long, that punishment became more than the ref wanted to see, with the elbows looking hard and heavy.
It was all over in just a minute and twenty seconds. After which, Pereira first addressed Ankalaev, who had claimed “Chama” was dead — then led the crowd at the T-Mobile Arena in a “Chama” chant.
“I don’t like to make excuses, but I’ve been saying I wasn’t well that night, and I’m feeling very well tonight,” Pereira told Joe Rogan following the fight, in reference to the initial loss to Ankalaev. He also downplayed the vengeance aspect, saying it simply wasn’t healthy to pursue such things.
Next up for Pereira could be Carlos Ulberg, Jiri Prochazka, or even Jon Jones. “Poatan” noted he’d had a speech prepared for the occasion, in reference to Jones, but instead called for a moment of silence for Arthur Jones, “Bones” brother, who passed away on Friday.
Official Result: Alex Pereira def. Magomed Ankalaev (c) by TKO, Round 1, 1:20
