‘Best Brazilian fighter to ever exist?’ Alex Pereira‘s stunning KO of Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320 ignites MMA world
LAS VEGAS – Alex Pereira delivered a brutal and swift knockout of Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320 on Saturday, reclaiming the UFC light heavyweight title in just 80 seconds and sparking a fervent debate about his place among the greatest brazilian mixed martial artists of all time. The victory was a resounding response to his prior decision loss to Ankalaev at UFC 313, a fight where Pereira cited a broken hand and norovirus as contributing factors to his performance.
pereira’s explosive finish and subsequent celebration – including a gesture some interpreted as memeing over the defeated ex-champion – ignited a wild scene inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. The win marks Pereira’s third UFC championship and solidifies his status as a two-division champion, an achievement he’s accomplished in a remarkable 12 bouts since his promotional debut in 2021. This rapid ascent and dominant performance have fueled discussions about whether Pereira has already surpassed legendary Brazilian fighters like Anderson Silva, José Aldo, and Royce Gracie.
The spectacular victory allowed Pereira a moment of reclamation after the 38-year-old blamed a broken hand and a bout of norovirus for his listless performance in his decision loss to Ankalaev at UFC 313. Pereira (14-3) is now a three-time UFC champion along with being a two-division UFC champion - a feat he’s accomplished in just 12 bouts as debuting with the promotion in 2021.
The atmosphere shifted further when Pereira called for a moment of silence to honor Jon Jones’ older brother, Arthur Jones, a former NFL lineman who died at age 39 on Friday, receiving a grateful response from the UFC legend himself.
Reaction to pereira’s big win has flooded social media and the MMA community. Full coverage of UFC 320, including live results, play-by-play and highlights of the entire Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev 2 pay-per-view card, can be found at Uncrowned’s UFC 320 hub.