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Main: Alex Pereira punches Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313. Inset: Daniel Cormier commentates during a live segment at UFC 317. Credit: Ian Maule/Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Daniel Cormier explains what Alex Pereira must do for a chance of revenge on Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow | By Harvey Leonard | Last updated Jul 25, 2025 1:00 PM ET

Daniel Cormier has some words of advice for Alex Pereira after his return was announced for UFC 320.

For the first time since late 2023, Pereira will enter the Octagon as a challenger at the pay-per-view in Las Vegas on October 4. ‘Poatan’ was returned to that status this past March, when Magomed Ankalaev beat Pereira at UFC 313 to end the Brazilian’s violent reign on the light heavyweight throne.

After months of uncertainty and claims that the former champ was not accepting numerous rematch offers, Dana White confirmed Ankalaev vs. Pereira 2 for the main event of UFC 320. Many are counting the kickboxing legend out given how his first fight with the Dagestani played out, with Chael Sonnen even giving Pereira zero chance against Ankalaev when they run it back.

If ‘Poatan’ is to prove him and his other detractors wrong, Cormier thinks he knows what the 38-year-old must do.

Alex Pereira has claimed victory in rematches against SIX different opponents across MMA and kickboxing

Will he have his redemption against Magomed Ankalaev at #UFC320? pic.twitter.com/i5kXA7oDEp
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) July 23, 2025

Daniel Cormier tells Alex Pereira to push forward from the get-go in Magomed Ankalaev rematch

During a recent episode of his Good Guy/Bad Guy show alongside Sonnen on the ESPN MMA YouTube channel, Cormier looked ahead to the next title fight in one of two divisions he once ruled over.

Pereira was stuck on his back foot for much of the UFC 313 main event, and ‘DC’ insists that cannot be the case on October 4 if the Brazilian is to regain the light heavyweight crown.

“This is the fight that needs to happen,” Cormier said. “Pereira deserves the chance to try to right that wrong.

“Alex wrestled much better than we expected him to (at UFC 313). He defended takedowns much better than we expected him to. … Now it’s up to them, Plinio (Cruz) and Glover (Teixeira)…to make it to where Alex can actually go get it done and not get pressed up against the Octagon.

“That’s where the difference has to happen,” Cormier continued. “He wasn’t taken down, but he was controlled…he was backed up the entire time. How does he move forward without Ankalaev actually pressing into him?

“I think he needs to get some respect from him very early, Chael, to make Ankalaev take a few steps back. … How does Pereira get that respect early, to make sure that this fight doesn’t play out exactly like the last one did?”

Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira tops what looks set to be a stacked PPV

Ankalaev’s first title defense against Pereira will be the UFC 320 curtain closer, but the lineup is already not short on intriguing matchups to set the stage for the main event.

The light heavyweight clash won’t be the only title on show at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. After Merab Dvalishvili beat Sean O’Malley again, he will now face the challenge of Cory Sandhagen in his third defense of the bantamweight throne.

And before the championship headliners, all eyes will be on a crucial bout at 205 pounds as former champion Jiri Prochazka and ex-title challenger Khalil Rountree Jr. collide in pursuit of securing the spot opposite the UFC 320 winner down the line.

More fights are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

This article first appeared on Bloody Elbow and was syndicated with permission.

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