UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev is aiming to remove all doubt when he defends his title against Alex Pereira in their highly anticipated rematch at UFC 320 on Oct. 4 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) first claimed the belt by defeating Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) via unanimous decision at UFC 313 in March. While Pereira has sought immediate redemption, Ankalaev insists history is on his side when it comes to second meetings.
Confident in Rematch History
“I think the rematch will be much easier than the first fight because statistics always show that fighting me in a rematch is very dangerous,” Ankalaev told Ushatayka (via Championship Rounds). “I’ll do whatever it takes to dominate. If I need to wrestle, I’ll wrestle. If I need to strike, I’ll strike. I don’t think we’ll have problems anywhere.”
Having already fought rematches with Johnny Walker and Ion Cutelaba both of which ended more decisively the second time Ankalaev believes Pereira will suffer the same fate. He emphasized that he wants Pereira fully prepared, leaving no room for excuses:
“I want him to come into this fight 100 percent so there are no questions about the outcome.”
On Khamzat Chimaev Entering the Division
Ankalaev was also asked about newly crowned UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev, who has hinted at moving up to light heavyweight. Ankalaev praised Chimaev’s dominant win over Dricus Du Plessis and welcomed the challenge.
“He proved himself. He showed how powerful he is, that he can dominate a strong fighter for five rounds. … As long as I fight in this division, and someone wants to move up to try and get my belt, welcome. No problem.”
What’s Next
With his first title defense set, Ankalaev looks to stamp his authority as the UFC’s top 205 pounder by shutting the door on Pereira’s second run at light heavyweight gold. A decisive win could also set the stage for fresh challengers, possibly including Chimaev if the Chechen star makes the jump in 2026.
Francis Ngannou’s Coach Hopes for MMA Return, But Boxing Still Priority
Welcome to Dice City Sports — where we provide premium, exclusive, up-to-date news and analysis surrounding the Las Vegas sports scene. Follow along on social media, and check back for new articles daily!
Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
