Pereira annihilates Ankalaev to reclaim crown as Merab lives up to “Machine” moniker

Chama! Chama! Chama!” roared the crowd as Alex Pereira made his triumphant return to the Octagon. The Brazilian fan favorite reclaimed his light heavyweight crown in emphatic fashion, needing just over a minute to dismantle Magomed Ankalaev - the man who had taken the belt from him seven months earlier. “Poatan” is champion once again.

“Losing is never a good thing. Sometimes it leaves a bit of poison in you,” Pereira said after the fight. “I’m not going to make excuses, but I wasn’t myself that night.”

The T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas was electric for Pereira’s comeback. He remains one of the UFC’s most beloved and charismatic fighters. True to form, he entered the cage with his signature arrow-shooting gesture, while Ankalaev - despite being the reigning champ - was met with boos. Their first meeting in March at UFC 313 had seen Ankalaev win by unanimous decision in a lackluster bout where Pereira looked flat and uninspired. This time, it was all about redemption.

Pereira pummels Ankalaev from the off

From the opening bell, Pereira gave Ankalaev no breathing room. He took control of the center of the cage and began chopping away with low kicks. Then came the turning point: a thunderous right hand that sent Ankalaev crashing to the canvas. Pereira followed up with a barrage of punches and elbows, forcing referee Herb Dean to step in and wave it off at just 1:20 of Round 1. The king had returned to his throne,

Even in victory, Pereira showed grace. “I had a speech prepared for tonight,” he said, “but I want to show respect for the passing of Jon Jones’ brother. I ask everyone for a moment of silence.”

With the belt back around his waist, Pereira now faces a stacked division. In the crowd were two potential challengers: Carlos Ulberg, fresh off a first-round knockout of Dominick Reyes, and former champ Jiri Prochazka, who delivered a stunning comeback KO against Khalil Rountree Jr. earlier in the UFC 320 card.

The Machine keeps rolling

In the co-main event, Merab Dvalishvili once again proved why he’s the most dominant force in the bantamweight division. The Georgian champion retained his title with a unanimous decision win over No. 4-ranked Cory Sandhagen, earning scorecards of 49-45, 49-45, and 49-46.

“I am a machine,” Dvalishvili declared post-fight. “I keep getting better. I train hard. I feel like I’m just beginning, I’m just starting.”

Sandhagen came out aggressive, using his jab and footwork to keep distance. He landed clean shots early, but Dvalishvili’s relentless pressure quickly took over. The champ closed the distance, pushed Sandhagen against the cage, and began chaining takedowns. By the end of the fight, he had landed a UFC-record 20 takedowns in a title bout.

Round 2 was pivotal. Dvalishvili stunned Sandhagen with a flurry of punches and nearly finished him. Though Sandhagen survived, he never regained full control. The Georgian’s cardio was otherworldly - he bounced in his corner between rounds like he’d just warmed up.

Sandhagen showed heart, especially in Round 4, where he landed two solid right hands and briefly threatened a reversal. But Dvalishvili’s grip never loosened. In the fifth, Sandhagen swung for the fences, hoping for a miracle shot, but it never came. His left eyebrow gushed blood as Dvalishvili continued to dominate on the ground.

With this win, Dvalishvili extended his win streak to 14 and solidified his place atop the bantamweight division. He’s already targeting a fourth title defense before year’s end: “I would love to make a quick turnaround!”

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