Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev 2: In a dominating display of talent and passion, Alex Pereira sent a message at UFC 320 in Las Vegas, reclaiming the light-heavyweight world title from Magomed Ankalaev.
The Brazilian dispatched Ankalaev in just 1 minute and 22 seconds, getting revenge for his loss from their initial bout earlier this month at UFC 313. Pereira’s decisive win not only highlighted his exceptional striking but also further cemented his place as a two-division UFC champion.
Alex Pereira’s Rash Redemption: Stopping Ankalaev in Under Two Minutes
After suffering a unanimous point loss to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313, Alex Pereira was itching to reclaim his title. The rematch at UFC 320 would allow Pereira to show that his first career loss was a fluke, and he didn’t have to wait long to show it.
Pereira came out aggressively, landing a crushing right hook early in the bout. The T-Mobile Arena crowd went wild when the Brazilian surprised Ankalaev with a flurry of heavy shots.
After landing a vicious right hand, Pereira then hammered Ankalaev with a flurry of crushing elbows, prompting referee Herb Dean to intervene and halt the bout. Pereira’s swift first-round win was a stark difference from his last fight with them, where he had been spending most of the duration of the match on the defensive.
Alex Pereira Post-Fight Quotes: “Vengeance is Never a Good Thing”
During his post-fight interview, Alex Pereira admitted his redemption but also narrated the suffering that resulted in his first defeat. “Vengeance is never a pleasant thing.
I told all of you that I was not in good shape last time but nobody believed it, tonight you witnessed it,” Pereira said. He continued, “It did not surprise me, I saw it in the first bout. I do not like to make excuses but I was not feeling well that night.”
Ankalaev, looking to secure a 13 fight winning streak, had issues finding significant strikes to land. The Russian landed only 2 of his 7 significant strikes, while Pereira found success landing an astounding 25 out of 37 significant strikes.
This fight proved once again Alex Pereira’s striker superiority, especially again to their last fight where Ankalaev was able to defend against Pereira’s punch power.
Alex Pereira’s Quick Rise to UFC Fame: Becoming a Two-Division Champion
Alex Pereira quickly climbed the ranks of the UFC after debuting in 2021. After just seven fights, Pereira won the Middleweight Championship, and then soon moved up to the Light-Heavyweight division to also win that title. This fast track record to becoming a two-division champion puts him among the fastest rising stars in UFC history.
Pereira’s success did not stop in 2024, as he successfully defended his light-heavyweight belt three times and was awarded the coveted title of UFC Fighter of the Year along with Ilia Topuria. His transformation from a kickboxing great to UFC phenomenon has made fans globally amazed, and his latest win against Ankalaev only fuels his legacy.
The Future of Alex Pereira: Focus on the Heavyweight Division
Even though Pereira has successfully regained his light-heavyweight crown, he is not satisfied with coasting on past glories. Dana White, the President of UFC, announced that Pereira’s camp and himself have shown interest in fighting in the heavyweight division.
In the post-fight press conference, White mentioned, “They say they want to fight heavyweight but I said prioritize tonight first. There are still fights in this division here, but we’ll see.”
Although he has had success in the middleweight and light-heavyweight divisions, Pereira’s need to challenge himself even more by fighting at heavyweight is an intriguing avenue for his career.
White also referenced Pereira’s jump of two weight classes, saying, “He was a middleweight to jump up two weight classes in the UFC, it’s not like boxing.” But Pereira’s toughness and willingness to fight anyone, anywhere, has made him a respected one of the toughest in the promotion.
Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev: Trilogy in the Making?
With the score now even between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev, the possibility of a trilogy fight looms large. After both fighters have secured one victory apiece, a third bout could ultimately decide who holds the bragging rights as the best light-heavyweight in the UFC.
The fans cannot wait to find out if Pereira will be able to maintain his supremacy within the division or if Ankalaev will manage to outmaneuver him in their next bout.
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