At UFC 320 in Las Vegas last Saturday, 38-year-old Alex Pereira silenced doubts about his prime by decisively reclaiming the light heavyweight title. Seven months after a tough decision loss to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313—during which Pereira reportedly suffered a broken hand and norovirus—Pereira came back fully healed and dominant, overwhelming Ankalaev with relentless pressure to secure an 80-second TKO win. This victory not only reinstated Pereira as one of UFC’s biggest stars but also significantly boosted his pound-for-pound ranking, suggesting his previous fight was compromised by injury.
Pereira, who has trained with former UFC champion Glover Teixeira in Connecticut and traveled extensively, displayed renewed focus from the start, pushing Ankalaev into a defensive stance. The fight ended when Ankalaev made a crucial mistake, allowing Pereira to land a powerful right cross that knocked him down, followed by a ground assault of elbows and hammerfists. In under four years in UFC, Pereira has amassed a remarkable record as a two-division champion, boasting a 10-2 UFC record with seven wins over current and former champions, eight title fights, and an undefeated record against UFC opponents.
Near 40 years old, and after a legendary kickboxing career with two GLORY titles and Hall of Fame status, Pereira has ambitions to move up to heavyweight, targeting a potential superfight with Jon Jones or the winner of the upcoming heavyweight title bout between Tom Aspinall and Cyril Gane. His ability to mask ground game vulnerabilities has been key to his success, and if he can replicate his results in a third division, Pereira may cement his legacy as the greatest and most decorated UFC fighter ever. Fans should savor his extraordinary talent now, as “Poirtan” stands out as a unique athlete and major pay-per-view draw.
Men’s Pound-for-Pound Top 10 Highlights:
- Ilia Topuria (Lightweight Champion) remains undefeated at 18-0 and appears poised to become UFC’s next major star after winning the lightweight title.
- Merab Dvalishvili (Bantamweight Champion) continues to impress with dominant title defenses, thanks largely to unprecedented cardio.
- Islam Makhachev (Welterweight) will face Jacques de la Maddalena at UFC 322, pursuing a historic win streak.
- Alex Pereira (Light Heavyweight) has surged from 8th to 4th after his UFC 320 championship win.
- Khamzat Chimaev (Middleweight Champion) proved he can dominate after overcoming injuries and inactivity.
Women’s Pound-for-Pound Notables:
- Valentina Shevchenko (Flyweight Champion), a future Hall of Famer, defended her title with tactical precision.
- Zhang Weili (Strawweight Champion) looks to expand her legacy by challenging Shevchenko at UFC 322.
- Kayla Harrison captured the bantamweight title and is positioned for big fights ahead.
Fan Take: Alex Pereira’s comeback at UFC 320 is a defining moment that reasserts his place among the UFC elite and highlights the relentless spirit that drives top fighters. His pursuit of three-division titles could reshape UFC’s landscape, inspiring fans and fighters alike while raising the bar for greatness in the sport.
