The light heavyweight division reaches a boil as champion Magomed Ankalaev defends his title for the first time in an instant rematch against the man he defeated to win the title, former two-time champion Alex "Poatan" Pereira. This championship main event at UFC 320, taking place Sunday, October 5th, 2025, is not only a battle for the championship and it's a conclusive showdown for legacy, with both men looking to etch their names alongside the all-time greats in the history books.

Ankalaev, who holds the second-longest active unbeaten run in the 205-pound weight class, wants to show his disputed win wasn't an anomaly. Pereira, the giant striker who was evidently chastened by the decision loss in March, is driven by the desire for redemption and to be just the second three-time UFC champion in two divisions. The first fight was a technical, tactical conflict; the rematch is an explosive and dramatic bout with both men ensuring a finish.

• Date: Sunday, October 5th, 2025

• Kick-off Time: 02:00 UTC

• Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada

• Competition: UFC 320: Ankalaev vs. Pereira 2 (Light Heavyweight Championship)

Record: 21-1-1 (1 NC)

Analysis: Ankalaev has the best record in light heavyweight history, with 14 wins and no losses. His victory over Pereira in March 2025 by unanimous decision won him the belt. Ankalaev confesses that he was not 100% prepared for the first bout and vows to be better trained for the rematch.

Record: 12-3-0

Analysis: Pereira is a star, a two-division champion (Middleweight and Light Heavyweight). He successfully defended the light heavyweight title three times prior to losing the title to Ankalaev. He is battling to win back his title at once and has openly announced that he was merely "40%" of himself in the first bout, fueling his colorful redemption arc.

Magomed Ankalaev: Ankalaev's biggest strength is technical precision and range management. He is a very cautious stand-up striker who prefers to outfire his opponents, even punching skilled strikers such as Pereira. His 87% takedown defense is world-class, and he will use the threat of his wrestling to get Pereira playing catch-up and reluctant to unleash his power.

Alex Pereira: Pereira is a raw knockout artist, employing raw power and dirty leg kicks. His 62% high significant strike percentage is higher than Ankalaev's 52%, and he possesses the left hook to end the fight in a flash. During the rematch, he must be more aggressive and set up his range early, as he was on his backfoot throughout the first fight.

The champion, Magomed Ankalaev, is strongly favored by the betting market, just having won and with the view that his varied style is a bad fit for the Brazilian striker.

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This rematch pits the disciplined, technical pressure of Ankalaev against the knockout destruction of Pereira. Sure, Pereira is an all-time great striker, but this stylistic matchup still poses challenges to him. Ankalaev's range control, takedown defense, and capacity to add more strikes were the difference in the first fight, and he vowed to be even better conditioned for this return match. Pereira's only hope for victory is early knockout, but Ankalaev's iron chin and composure-oriented approach will likely render this moot.

• Final Score Prediction: Magomed Ankalaev by Unanimous Decision.

This fight is a battle for legacy. If Ankalaev wins, he becomes the divisional king and brings forward his ambitious goal of switching divisions to heavyweight for a second title. A belt defense for Pereira would put him among only two men to be three-time champions in two divisions, securing his unique path in UFC history. The highly anticipated rematch guarantees fireworks and a moment that will forever define the light heavyweight division.