Alex Pereira Crushes Magomed Ankalaev in 80 Seconds to Reclaim Light Heavyweight Title at UFC 320

LAS VEGAS (Oct. 5, 2025) — Alex Pereira reclaimed the UFC light heavyweight title in spectacular fashion Saturday night, knocking out Magomed Ankalaev in just 80 seconds at UFC 320 inside T-Mobile Arena, according to Brent Brookhouse of CBS Sports.

After a brief exchange, Pereira landed a crushing right hand that sent Ankalaev crashing to the canvas before finishing with ground strikes, forcing referee Herb Dean to stop the fight. The result marked redemption for Pereira, who lost their first meeting in March when Ankalaev controlled the pace with clinch work and pressure, as reported by E. Spencer Kyte of UFC.com.

“Vengeance is never a good thing; it’s kind of a poison sometimes,” Pereira said after the fight. “I told everyone I was not in good condition last fight … This proved it,” per CBS Sports.

Ankalaev, who entered on a long unbeaten streak, was visibly shaken. His manager, Sayat Abdrakhmanov, told Damon Martin of MMA Fighting that Ankalaev “should never have fought” at UFC 320, citing injuries and limited preparation time.

In the co-main event, bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili relied on his relentless wrestling to defeat Cory Sandhagen by unanimous decision (49-45, 49-45, 49-46). Dvalishvili scored more than 20 takedowns, surpassing 100 career takedowns to set a new UFC record, according to CBS Sports.

Elsewhere on the card, Jiri Prochazka stopped Khalil Rountree Jr. in the third round, Youssef Zalal submitted Josh Emmett in the first, Joe Pyfer earned a second-round choke over Abus Magomedov, and Jakub Wiklacz edged Patchy Mix by split decision, as reported by UFC.com. Edmen Shahbazyan, Ateba Gautier, Punahele Soriano, Macy Chiasson, and Farid Basharat also picked up wins on the undercard, per CBS Sports.

With the title back around his waist, Pereira reestablished himself as one of the sport’s premier knockout artists and set up possible rematches with former foes like Prochazka. Meanwhile, Dvalishvili’s 13th straight victory could line him up for another marquee fight—possibly a rematch with former champion Petr Yan, according to UFC.com.

UFC 320 delivered a mix of dominant wrestling, highlight-reel finishes, and a powerful statement from Pereira, who reminded the world why few can stand up to his striking power.

(Reporting by Brent Brookhouse, CBS Sports; E. Spencer Kyte, UFC.com; and Damon Martin, MMA Fighting.)