Alex Pereira once again proved his championship pedigree at UFC 320, reclaiming the light heavyweight title with a devastating first-round knockout over Magomed Ankalaev.
After suffering a decision loss to Ankalaev in March, Pereira wasted no time in their rematch.
‘Poatan’ blitzed forward from the opening bell, landing a thunderous right hand that sent the Russian crashing to the canvas.
MORE: UFC 320 full card results
A desperate takedown attempt wasn’t enough to halt Pereira’s momentum as he unleashed a barrage of elbows and ground strikes before the referee stepped in to stop the fight.
With the victory, Pereira became a three-time UFC champion, solidifying his position as one of the sports biggest enigmas.
Among those watching closely was long-time rival Israel Adesanya. In a video posted to his YouTube channel, ‘The Last Stylebender’ shared his thoughts on Pereira’s performance and future.
“Once Ankalaev went orthodox [stance], I knew it was a wrap because you’re giving [Pereira] the leg he likes,” Adesanya said.
He praised Pereira’s killer instinct, shouting “He’s not f***ing around” as he began walking Ankalaev down.
After the fight, Adesanya looked ahead, expressing interest in a potential matchup between Pereira and rising contender Carlos Ulberg.
“I want to see him versus Carlos,” Adesanya said.
“I think that would be a good fight.”
Ulberg, Adesanya’s City Kickboxing teammate, has been on an impressive run in the 205 pound division, winning his last nine on the bounce.
However, Adesanya warned that Pereira’s signature weapon could be the deciding factor in a potential matchup.
“In that fight, all Carlos has to watch out for is the leg-kick,” Adesanya said.
“But that leg-kick, if he gets it, it’s going to be a problem.”
Despite their storied rivalry, Adesanya appeared to respect Pereira’s game and the impact that his win at UFC 320 had on the broader mixed martial arts landscape.
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