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Pereira Dethrones Ankalaev in Stunning UFC 320 Upset
5 Oct
Summary
- Pereira defeats Ankalaev to win light heavyweight title
- Pereira scores first-round TKO, ending Ankalaev's 14-fight unbeaten streak
- Pereira exacts revenge for prior loss to Ankalaev
On October 5, 2025, in a highly anticipated UFC 320 main event, fan favorite Alex Pereira shocked the world by dethroning reigning light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev. Pereira (13-3-0) floored Ankalaev (21-2-1) with a huge right hand in the opening round and quickly followed up with thunderous elbows on the ground, forcing referee Herb Dean to stop the fight at the 1:20 mark.
The victory brought an end to Ankalaev's 14-match unbeaten streak and allowed Pereira to exact revenge for a loss to Ankalaev in their previous meeting back in March. "I wasn't well that night, but tonight I was very well," Pereira said through his translator after the fight.
The highly anticipated title clash was the main event of a stacked UFC 320 card. Earlier in the night, second-ranked light heavyweight contender Jiri Prochazka delivered a brutal knockout win over Khalil Rountree Jr. in a fight that earned the "Fight of the Night" bonus. In the co-main event, bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili successfully defended his title against Cory Sandhagen.