UFC 320 Preview
Alex Pereira returns to the octagon at UFC 320 with one goal in mind. The former middleweight and light heavyweight champion wants his belt back, and he plans to get it through the same striking power that carried him to two division titles in less than two years.
The Path That Led Here
Pereira lost his light heavyweight championship to Magomed Ankalaev in March after defending it three times. The Brazilian fighter entered that bout with a torn ligament in his left knee, an injury he kept hidden from the athletic commission and his own team until after the fight ended. Ankalaev dominated the performance, earning a unanimous decision at UFC 313.
The loss marked Pereira’s first defeat at 205 pounds. Before that night, he had knocked out Jan Błachowicz, Jiří Procházka, Jamahal Hill and Khalil Rountree Jr. in succession. Each victory came by strikes, with Pereira needing less than the full five rounds to finish all four opponents.
Fight Night Betting Approaches for Title Matches
Title fights like Pereira’s attempt to reclaim his championship belt attract heavy betting action across multiple platforms. Bettors often look for value through parlay combinations, prop bets on round finishes, and method of victory wagers rather than simple win-loss picks.
Smart money management means spreading risk across different bet types and taking advantage of available resources like sportsbook promos, cashback offers on losses, and boosted odds for specific outcomes. Many bettors set aside portions of their bankroll specifically for championship events, allocating smaller amounts to exotic props while keeping larger stakes on traditional moneyline or over-under round totals.
Breaking Down Pereira’s Striking Game
Pereira throws his left hook with technical precision that few fighters can match. He sets it up by feinting with his right hand, which causes opponents to shift their weight backward. When they react to the feint, Pereira steps forward with his left foot and rotates his hips to generate maximum force through the punch. This same technique knocked out Israel Adesanya when Pereira won the middleweight championship.
His leg kicks follow a similar pattern of misdirection. Pereira will throw several light kicks to gauge distance and timing, then suddenly accelerate one with full power behind it. The damage accumulates quickly because opponents cannot predict which kicks will carry force and which ones serve as range finders.
What Ankalaev Brings to the Rematch
Magomed Ankalaev has not lost inside the Octagon since 2018. He is 12-0-1, 1NC in his last 14 fights. In those 14 fights, he holds a 50% stoppage ratio, with 50% going to the judges’ scorecards.
The Dagestani has the traditional wrestling, but in the first meeting between the two, he showcased his striking, which was impressive, as many pundits thought he would utilize the wrestling to negate Pereira’s striking. Ankalaev has speed and footwork that were very tricky for the Brazilian to predict.
The Wrestling Question Nobody Talks About
Pereira possesses limited wrestling background, which shapes how this rematch could unfold. Pereira has defended 78 percent of takedown attempts in his UFC career, though most opponents abandon wrestling after feeling his striking power. Ankalaev’s takedown defense is excellent, with stats showing an 86-87% success rate. He is effective at staying on his feet against takedown attempts and also shows strong defensive capabilities on the ground, like protecting himself from ground and pound and submissions, although this isn’t the same as stopping a takedown on his feet.
This mutual preference for standing exchanges means the fight will likely stay on the feet for most of its duration. Neither man has shown interest in grinding out victories through control time or positional dominance.
Training Camp Adjustments
Pereira moved his training camp to Mexico City for this fight, working at elevation to improve his cardiovascular endurance. The altitude sits at 7,350 feet above sea level, forcing the body to produce more red blood cells to compensate for lower oxygen levels. He spent eight weeks there before returning to Connecticut for his final preparations.
UFC 320’s main event presents a simple question with a complicated answer. Can Pereira land his power shots before Ankalaev’s volume and cardio take over? Both men know what to expect from each other.
