Can Alex Pereira Reclaim the UFC Light Heavyweight Title Against Magomed Ankalaev?

The stage is now set for the highly anticipated UFC light heavyweight title rematch between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev. The fight will take place in the main event of UFC 320 inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Earlier this year in March, when both dangerous fighters locked horns inside the Octagon, the dominant Russian secured a decisive unanimous decision victory. Pereira initially protested the decision and has been waiting patiently ever since for the long-awaited opportunity to get revenge.

Why is Alex Pereira the betting underdog against Magomed Ankalaev?

Going into UFC 320, Ankalaev is considered the fan favorite to win, surprising many given Pereira’s impressive record. Before losing his championship belt, ‘Poatan’ looked completely unstoppable and viciously knocked out three top title contenders during the year 2024. All this success turned him into a massive global superstar, keeping the Brazilian busy with worldwide tours and enthusiastic fans.

Alex Pereira says he’s only shown 5% of what he’s been working on ahead of the Ankalaev rematch 👀

“Sometimes people say I’m showing too much, but I’m only showing 5%.”

🎥 @AlexPereiraUFC #UFC320 pic.twitter.com/v7mF6mRq5c
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) September 21, 2025

However, according to many concerned fans, his overwhelming fame affected training, which ultimately ruined his fight against Magomed Ankalaev. As expected, those lingering concerns still remain for this upcoming title rematch, though Pereira appears much more cautious this time. “I didn’t post a lot of videos this time. Sometimes people say that I’m showing too much but I’m only showing 5%,” said Pereira about his current training camp.

In the last fight, Anklaev used his wrestling and forward pressure to keep Pereira on the back foot. This prevented the Brazilian from using his devastating left hook, which has the capability to knock out anybody. This time, the former champion would want a different result, but all this doesn’t seem to bother Ankalaev.

SHOP: Kids Kickboxing Sets

Magomed Ankalaev’s mental warfare against Alex Pereira

After becoming the new UFC light heavyweight champion, Magomed Ankalaev has become significantly more active and outspoken across various social media platforms. The Russian has increasingly resorted to bold trash talking, which has unexpectedly made him more engaging for many fans.

Recently, Alex Pereira shared intense training clips focused on his takedown defense, but Ankalaev quickly mocked and ridiculed him online. According to the newly crowned champion, wrestling techniques won’t even be necessary since he plans to knock out Pereira immediately.