Alex Pereira has another opportunity to demonstrate his dominance by defeating Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320.
This Saturday marks the return of the leading mixed martial arts promotion to Las Vegas for UFC 320, featuring a highly anticipated light heavyweight title rematch between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira.
Their initial encounter at UFC 313 earlier this year saw Ankalaev secure a surprising victory, outperforming Pereira in striking exchanges throughout all five rounds.
As their rematch approaches this Saturday, the rivalry has intensified, culminating in a tense confrontation at the UFC Performance Institute just days ago.
Pereira Aims to Be First `Modern Era` Fighter to Achieve Rare Feat
Alex “Poatan” Pereira`s rapid ascent in the UFC saw him fast-tracked to a title reign shortly after joining the organization.
During his championship tenure, the Brazilian quickly established himself as a global combat sports icon, becoming one of the most recognizable faces of the UFC for years.
However, his loss to the Russian champion earlier this year appeared to diminish some of his star power, leading to a quieter period for him in recent months.
Nevertheless, the 38-year-old has an opportunity this Saturday in Las Vegas to reclaim his prominent status with a significant victory.
Should Pereira successfully make the necessary 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 did so in 2003 at UFC 44 following his victory over Tito Ortiz.
Pereira Still Eyeing Elusive Triple-Champion Status
While he held the light heavyweight title, given his considerable size, it often seemed inevitable that `Poatan` would eventually move up to the heavyweight division.
Ahead of UFC 320, the Brazilian fighter has again hinted at a future transition to heavyweight, aiming to become the sport`s first-ever three-division UFC champion.
