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Ankalaev Vs. Pereira Breakdown

Originally posted on BoxingNews.com | Last updated Oct 1, 2025 1:30 AM ET

Magomed Ankalaev rematches Alex Pereira at UFC 320, as we look at how the fight could play out.

Ankalaev will be defending the title he claimed by defeating Pereira via a unanimous decision at UFC 313. That loss was the first for Pereira in the light heavyweight division. Following the bout, Ankalaev’s corner accused Pereira of illegally applying a substance, or “greasing,” to prevent takedowns—a charge which Pereira strongly rejected. The victor is expected to next face Carlos Ulberg, who secured a stoppage victory over Dominick Reyes in his last bout. Here is how the fight could play out.

The Approach

Ankalaev will want to dominate the mid-range striking exchanges. As a southpaw, Ankalaev will focus on consistently controlling Pereira’s lead hand, preventing the setup for the devastating left hook and forcing the challenger to hesitate and reduce his striking volume. He will look to use his faster hands to punish Pereira with straight lefts or quick combinations whenever Pereira attempts to close the distance. The mere threat of his wrestling will continue to be a primary tool. Though his takedown attempts were mostly stuffed in the first bout, Ankalaev will continue to use level changes and clinch entries to crowd Pereira and drain his energy.

Pereira’s biggest failure in the first fight was his low volume and tentativeness, born from respecting the takedown threat too much. Pereira’s plan must center on treating Ankalaev’s wrestling threat as a necessary risk and fighting through it by significantly increasing his offensive output. He must abandon fighting off the back foot, which allowed Ankalaev to dictate the pace, and instead actively walk the champion down from the opening bell to establish his striking range and power. He must also prioritize slowing Ankalaev down by increasing his use of calf kicks—which were effective but underutilized previously.