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Alex Pereira Reclaims Light Heavyweight Title in Rapid Stoppage on High-Stakes UFC 320 Fight Card By BBC News Sport Las Vegas, Nevada – The UFC Light Heavyweight Championship changed hands in dramatic fashion on Saturday, 4 October, as Alex Pereira defeated Magomed Ankalaev via first-round technical knockout (TKO) in the main event of the heavily anticipated UFC 320 fight card. The event, held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, delivered a night of definitive results, with Pereira’s victory regaining him the 205-pound crown just seven months after losing it to Ankalaev in their first encounter. The co-main event saw the continued dominance of Bantamweight Champion Merab Dvalishvili, who successfully defended his title against Cory Sandhagen via unanimous decision. The headline bout was defined by its brevity and immediate intensity. Ankalaev, who had defeated Pereira by a competitive decision earlier in the year to secure the title, entered the rematch with a reputation for suffocating, high-control wrestling. However, the fight began with Pereira immediately closing the distance, deploying heavy pressure that negated the champion’s technical game plan. A powerful overhand right from the Brazilian landed early, visibly stunning Ankalaev and prompting him to attempt a reactive takedown. Pereira successfully defended the attempt, transitioning immediately to a devastating ground-and-pound attack against the cage. The resulting flurry of strikes forced referee Herb Dean to intervene and stop the contest at just one minute and 20 seconds of the first round, crowning Pereira champion once more. Speaking immediately after the fight, Pereira addressed the mixed reactions following his previous performance, citing issues outside the cage that had hampered his first outing against the Russian fighter.
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"Vengeance is never a good thing. It's kind of a poison," Pereira stated, adding: "I told everyone I was not in a good condition last time, nobody believed it. but tonight I’m very well. ” The emphatic nature of the finish resolved months of conjecture regarding the light heavyweight division’s leadership. The result sparked significant reaction from combat sports analysts, many of whom had predicted a lengthy, grappling-heavy contest favouring Ankalaev. Ariel Helwani, a leading mixed martial arts journalist, observed the efficiency of Pereira’s attack. "The precision and power of Alex Pereira are almost unparalleled at this weight class," Helwani commented. "Ankalaev’s biggest error was giving up that early momentum and allowing Pereira to unleash his striking in a tight space. It was a flawless execution of a fight-ending sequence. " In the co-main event, Merab Dvalishvili extended his lengthy winning streak and solidified his standing as the division's top figure, securing a unanimous decision victory over Cory Sandhagen.
The Georgian champion showcased his trademark relentless pace and world-class wrestling credentials throughout the five rounds. Dvalishvili successfully controlled the distance, repeatedly securing takedowns and maintaining dominant top positions against the technical striking specialist. While Sandhagen proved defensively resilient, landing diverse and creative strikes when upright, he was unable to deter the champion's constant forward pressure. The judges' scorecards reflected Dvalishvili's dominance, reading 49-45, 49-45, and 49-46. This victory marks Dvalishvili's third successful title defence this year, placing him in an elite category of reigning champions. Beyond the title contests, the ufc-320-fight-card featured several high-impact bouts. Former Light Heavyweight champion Jiří Procházka delivered a stunning knockout victory over Khalil Rountree Jr. in a highly competitive fight that threatened to end at several moments. Procházka, known for his unorthodox style, rallied in the third round to secure a devastating stoppage at 3:04, reasserting his position as a primary contender in the 205-pound division. Elsewhere on the main card, the Featherweight division saw a major upset as Youssef Zalal defeated veteran Josh Emmett via first-round submission (armbar).
Zalal’s quick, technical finish elevated his profile significantly, registering his fifth consecutive victory and positioning him for a move into the ranked top ten. Middleweight prospect Joe Pyfer also secured a notable win, defeating Abus Magomedov by submission, demonstrating both durability and a developing ground game. Overall, UFC 320 proved to be a major financial success, with reports indicating a significant gate revenue of over $8. 8 million, reflecting the public interest in the twin championship headliners. The outcomes have not only reshaped the immediate championship picture in two weight classes but have also accelerated the careers of several rising talents. For Alex Pereira, the immediate future will involve addressing top contenders in the light heavyweight division. Meanwhile, Merab Dvalishvili will look to cement a long-term legacy in the bantamweight class, potentially facing the winner of other top-ranked matchups, thereby continuing the trend of competitive matchups in the promotion's near future.
Conclusion
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