UFC 320: Champion Magomed Ankalaev wants to prove he's here to stay

The main event of UFC 320 features a light heavyweight championship rematch as reigning world champion Magomed Ankalaev looks to deliver a statement to the rest of the 205-pound division.

The event, which takes place this Saturday, October 4, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, will see Russia’s undisputed UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev look to make the first successful defence of his title when he takes on the man he defeated to win the belt, former champ Alex Pereira, in the main event of the evening.

For Ankalaev, it’s a chance to erase all doubt and cement his position as the world’s premier 205-pound fighter after finally making it to the top of the sport, despite some unforeseen obstacles along the way.

Magomed Ankalaev — Stephen R. Sylvanie/Imagn Images

Things didn’t go Ankalaev’s way when he first arrived in the UFC, but since a shock defeat on his promotional debut, the Russian hasn’t been bested inside the Octagon.

His first appearance saw him dominate Scotland’s Paul Craig in London, but when he found himself trapped in a triangle choke with the final seconds counting down, the Russian tapped and fell to his one and only career defeat, with the stoppage coming with just one second left in the fight.

Since then, Ankalaev has torn through the competition as he’s made his way up the light heavyweight ladder. Wins over the likes of Ion Cutelaba (twice), Nikita Krylov and former title challengers Volkan Oezdemir, Thiago Santos and Anthony Smith but him within touching distance of a title shot. But, just as it looked like the title was in reach, a cruel set of circumstances kept him from holding championship gold.

In December 2022 he faced former champion Jan Blachowicz for the vacant title at UFC 282. But, despite appearing to edge the five-round title contest in Las Vegas, the judges returned a split draw verdict, leaving Ankalaev visibly upset and frustrated.

More frustration followed when he returned to action in October 2023 against Johnny Walker. An accidental illegal knee from Ankalaev rendered Walker unable to continue and their bout was ruled a no contest. It meant an immediate rematch had to be made, further slowing Ankalaev’s progress.

But, fired up after his last two fights produced unexpected results, Ankalaev stepped back into the cage and knocked out Walker in the second round of their rematch in January 2024 to get back on track.

A decision victory over Austrian contender Aleksandar Rakic followed, as Ankalaev finally put himself back in line to fight for the title again, and he faced Pereira for the belt at UFC 313 in March this year.

In a tight, tactical contest, Ankalaev proved to be the better man through the middle rounds of the fight as he claimed a unanimous decision victory to finally capture the championship he’d been chasing for so long.

Now set to face Pereira again, Ankalaev wants to prove that he’s here to stay as the UFC’s top 205-pounder. If he can turn back Pereira’s challenge and claim back-to-back victories over the former two-division champion, it will solidify his claim to be the best light heavyweight on the planet.