Alex Pereira aims to reaffirm his dominance with a pivotal win against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320. This Saturday, Las Vegas hosts UFC 320, featuring a highly anticipated light heavyweight title rematch between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira.
Their first encounter at UFC 313 earlier this year saw Ankalaev secure an upset victory, outstriking Pereira for five rounds. As their rematch approaches, tensions have escalated, highlighted by a near-altercation at the UFC Performance Institute recently.
Pereira Targets Historic `Modern Era` Achievement
Pereira, known as `Poatan,` quickly ascended to UFC championship status following his rapid signing with the promotion. His championship reign established the Brazilian superstar as one of the most popular figures in combat sports, making him a prominent face for the UFC for several years.
However, his loss to the Russian champion earlier this year appeared to diminish his widespread appeal, causing him to recede from the spotlight in recent months. Nonetheless, the 38-year-old has a crucial opportunity to reclaim his star power with a significant victory this Saturday in Las Vegas.
Should Pereira implement effective adjustments, he stands to become the first fighter in the modern era to secure a three-time UFC championship across two distinct weight divisions. This rare accomplishment was previously achieved only by UFC legend Randy Couture, who defeated Tito Ortiz at UFC 44 in 2003.
Pereira Reiterates Interest in Triple-Champion Status
Given his physique during his light heavyweight championship tenure, a move to the heavyweight division always seemed like a natural progression for `Poatan.` Leading up to UFC 320, Pereira has again hinted at a future heavyweight move, aiming to become the UFC`s first-ever three-division champion.
Neville Whittle