Pereira reclaims title in 80-second TKO of Ankalaev

LAS VEGAS -- Alex Pereira said helium wasn't himself backmost successful March, erstwhile helium surrendered his UFC airy heavyweight rubric to Magomed Ankalaev successful a five-round decision. Saturday's rematch indicated helium wasn't lying.

Pereira (14-3) reclaimed the 205-pound title astatine UFC 320 successful ascendant fashion, arsenic helium finished Ankalaev via TKO successful conscionable 80 seconds. It was a stunning reversal from what happened 7 months ago, erstwhile Pereira appeared hesitant and timid successful what became his archetypal nonaccomplishment successful that value class. He virtually astir ran retired of his country successful Saturday's rematch, and enactment Ankalaev distant without hardly absorbing a azygous strike.

"Vengeance is ne'er a bully thing, it's benignant of a poison sometimes," said Pereira, done an interpreter. "I told everyone I was not successful bully information past time. Everyone saw it tonight."

Prior to the rematch, Pereira's squad told ESPN helium fought successful March with a fractured tibia. He was besides sick successful the weeks anterior to the event, and was placed connected antibiotics. He took immoderate clip distant from the gym aft the nonaccomplishment to Ankalaev, and it intelligibly paid off. He asserted himself arsenic the aggressor from the opening bell, instantly dropped him with a close manus to the chin and finished the bout with elbows from apical posiiton.

It's the 12th knockout triumph of Pereira's comparatively abbreviated MMA career. He was a two-weight champion successful a nonrecreational kickboxing vocation that spanned from 2012 to 2021.