The light heavyweight belt is back on the line as Magomed Ankalaev faces Alex Pereira in a blockbuster rematch at UFC 320. The card goes down October 4, 2025 at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, with a stacked lineup featuring rising prospects and proven contenders.
Ankalaev vs Pereira 2 is pure contrast: smothering pressure and top control against cold-blooded striking and knockout power. The rest of the bill includes veterans fighting to stay relevant and new names looking for breakout moments.
Event Details
Full Fight Card (Subject to Change)
Official bout order will be updated during fight week. As of now, here’s the announced lineup for UFC 320: Ankalaev vs Pereira 2:
Main Card · 10:00 PM ET · ESPN+ PPV
| Light Heavyweight Title | Magomed Ankalaev vs Alex Pereira (c) |
| Bantamweight | Petr Yan vs Merab Dvalishvili |
| Welterweight | Geoff Neal vs Shavkat Rakhmonov |
| Middleweight | Dricus Du Plessis vs Jared Cannonier |
Prelims · 8:00 PM ET · ESPN/ESPN+
| Lightweight | Jalin Turner vs Dan Hooker |
| Flyweight | Amir Albazi vs Kai Kara-France |
Early Prelims · 6:00 PM ET · ESPN+
| Featherweight | Billy Quarantillo vs Edson Barboza |
| Women’s Strawweight | Amanda Ribas vs Tatiana Suarez |
Fight card information via Tapology and UFC.com. Card subject to late changes.
Main Event Breakdown — Ankalaev vs Pereira 2
A classic clash of archetypes: Ankalaev’s positional control and clamp-heavy wrestling against Pereira’s world-class kickboxing and knockout threat. Small decisions at clinch entries, fence turns, and exit patterns will shape five rounds.
Magomed Ankalaev — Paths to Victory
- Early level changes to blunt calf kicks and slow Pereira’s set-ups.
- Fence rides: wrist control, knee taps, mat returns; make the cage the third man.
- Top pressure over damage: half guard rides, shoulder pressure, incremental advances.
- Southpaw jab feints to draw counters, shoot beneath the hook.
Alex Pereira — Paths to Victory
- Leg kicks early, especially outside low kick to slow Ankalaev’s stance switches.
- Proactive pivots off the logo; deny straight lines to the fence.
- Counter uppercut and left hook on level-change tells.
- Knee threats from collar tie breaks; make exits dangerous.
Tactical Keys
- First Layer: Jab feints vs low-kick entries — who wins the first minute cadence.
- Fence Phase: Underhook battles and head position; Ankalaev builds time, Pereira escapes clean.
- Mat Returns: If Ankalaev chains lifts and trips, Pereira’s stand-ups get taxed fast.
- Counter Windows: Pereira’s left hook/uppercut vs Ankalaev’s level-change timing.
- Kick Defense: Checks and catches; unchecked calf damage flips later rounds.
Risk Matrix
| Scenario | Favors | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Extended fence clinch | Ankalaev | Time theft, shoulder pressure, mat returns. |
| Open space kickboxing | Pereira | Power kicking, counter left hook threat. |
| Scrambles after takedowns | Even | Ankalaev control vs Pereira athletic exits. |
| Late-round cardio tax | Ankalaev | Top control tends to bank rounds and sap pop. |
What to Watch For
- Southpaw vs orthodox trap: Pereira’s outside foot vs Ankalaev’s straight left feint.
- Kick checks early; if Ankalaev’s lead leg goes, entries get desperate.
- Ref restarts in clinch — pace and geography matter for scoring optics.
Fighter pages: UFC: Ankalaev · UFC: Pereira
Co-Main & Key Bouts
Co-Main Event: Petr Yan vs Merab Dvalishvili
A crucial bantamweight clash. Yan’s pocket boxing and defensive footwork against Dvalishvili’s endless pressure and chain wrestling. Stakes: a path back to the title picture in a division stacked with killers.
Welterweight Spotlight: Geoff Neal vs Shavkat Rakhmonov
Rakhmonov’s undefeated run meets Neal’s heavy hands. This is the litmus test for whether Shavkat is ready for a top-5 push. Expect violence in small cages exchanges.
Middleweight Feature: Dricus Du Plessis vs Jared Cannonier
Du Plessis’s chaotic pressure style against Cannonier’s disciplined kickboxing. Winner could easily be one fight away from another title shot.
Prospects to Watch
- Jalin Turner — length, pace, submission threats at lightweight.
- Amir Albazi — flyweight dark horse with sharp grappling transitions.
- Tatiana Suarez — returning strawweight contender, top-tier wrestling base.
See latest bout confirmations at Tapology: UFC 320.
Tactical Keys Across the Card
Beyond the headliner, UFC 320 is full of style clashes. Here are the tactical themes fans should track across divisions.
Bantamweight Pressure War
Yan’s ability to maintain pocket control with pivots vs Dvalishvili’s relentless shot volume. Key: Who wins clinch breaks and center resets.
Welterweight Power Checks
Neal’s counter right vs Rakhmonov’s forward pressure and trips along the fence. If Neal can’t land early deterrents, Shavkat’s layered offense snowballs.
Middleweight Chaos Factor
Du Plessis thrives in messy scrambles, while Cannonier’s path is clean distance striking. Whoever controls tempo in exchanges likely wins optics with judges.
Cross-Card Themes
- Leg Kicks: Multiple fights hinge on calf-damage accumulation.
- Clinch Control: Fence work will decide minutes in Yan vs Dvalishvili and Ankalaev vs Pereira.
- Cardio Sustainability: Pressure fighters like Dvalishvili and Du Plessis test opponents’ late-round output.
- Judging Criteria: New emphasis on damage over control favors strikers in swing rounds.
“Fights aren’t just won with single skills anymore. Layering threats — kick threat, takedown threat, clinch threat — that’s what wins modern UFC main cards.”
— Analyst, ESPN MMA
Betting Odds & Market Outlook
Live markets lean toward Ankalaev. Lines move during fight week; always check a current board before staking.
| Matchup | Consensus Odds* | Implied % |
|---|---|---|
| Magomed Ankalaev vs Alex Pereira | Ankalaev ~ -200 / Pereira ~ +160 | Ank ~ 66–67% · Per ~ 38–39% |
| Merab Dvalishvili vs Cory Sandhagen | Dvalishvili ~ -350 / Sandhagen ~ +285 | Merab ~ 74–76% · Cory ~ 26–27% |
| Jiří Procházka vs Khalil Rountree Jr. | Procházka ~ -180 / Rountree ~ +150 | Jiri ~ 60–61% · KR ~ 40–41% |
*Snapshot from reputable boards; lines update frequently.
Market Notes
- Early markets installed Ankalaev as a modest favorite; money has nudged him toward -200 territory.
- Prop volatility expected on Pereira KO lines near fight night.
- Watch weigh-ins for leg-kick readiness and any cardio flags before late wagers.
How to Watch UFC 320
UFC 320 will be broadcast worldwide across multiple platforms. Availability depends on your region, so always double-check local listings.
United States
- Early Prelims: ESPN+
- Prelims: ESPN / ESPN+
- Main Card: ESPN+ PPV
Official site: ESPN Fightcenter
United Kingdom & Ireland
BT Sport Box Office will carry the PPV. Prelims are typically available on BT Sport 2 and BT Sport App.
Info: BT Sport UFC Hub
Canada
TSN and UFC Fight Pass cover prelims. Main Card via PPV providers and UFC Fight Pass.
Info: TSN UFC Coverage
Australia
Main Card broadcast live on Main Event PPV and Kayo Sports. Prelims on UFC Fight Pass.
Info: Kayo Sports
Global Start Times
- Las Vegas (PDT): Prelims 5 PM, Main Card 7 PM
- New York (EDT): Prelims 8 PM, Main Card 10 PM
- London (BST): Prelims 1 AM, Main Card 3 AM (Oct 5)
- Sydney (AEDT): Prelims 11 AM, Main Card 1 PM (Oct 5)
Historical Context
UFC 320 continues a long tradition of light heavyweight title fights that defined eras. From Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz, to Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier, the division has been the stage for legacy-defining rivalries.
Alex Pereira’s rise is historic in itself: a former kickboxing world champion who captured UFC gold in record time, crossing divisions. Ankalaev, meanwhile, represents the grinding Dagestani lineage that dominated modern MMA. Their clash embodies the stylistic chess the UFC has thrived on.
Light Heavyweight Legacy Timeline
- 2000s: Liddell, Ortiz, Rampage – strikers carried the belt.
- 2010s: Jon Jones era, dominance of athletic hybrids.
- 2015–2020: Cormier & Jones rivalry; wrestle-boxing prominence.
- 2020s: New blood: Blachowicz, Procházka, Pereira – global mix of styles.
“The light heavyweight belt has always been about power meeting strategy. Ankalaev vs Pereira fits right in the lineage.”
— MMA Historian, The Athletic
What’s Next?
The fallout of UFC 320 will ripple across multiple divisions. The light heavyweight title picture, bantamweight title chase, and welterweight rankings all hinge on these results.
Light Heavyweight Landscape
If Ankalaev wins, the Dagestani era could solidify with his grinding style. A Pereira win, especially via knockout, sets up a blockbuster with Jiří Procházka or even a trilogy.
Bantamweight Stakes
Yan vs Dvalishvili carries contender implications. With Sean O’Malley at the top, a big finish here could catapult the winner into title talks.
Welterweight Impact
Rakhmonov is unbeaten; if he stops Neal, he’s undeniably top-5 and in the mix for Edwards, Covington, or Muhammad. A Neal upset reshuffles the contender order.
Middleweight Aftermath
Du Plessis vs Cannonier likely produces the next challenger for the belt. Either outcome sets up stylistically fresh matchups for reigning champion Israel Adesanya.
FAQ — UFC 320
When is UFC 320?
Saturday, October 4, 2025, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Who is fighting in the main event?
Magomed Ankalaev challenges Alex Pereira for the UFC light heavyweight title in a high-stakes rematch.
How can I watch UFC 320?
In the U.S., the main card streams on ESPN+ PPV, prelims on ESPN/ESPN+, early prelims on ESPN+. International coverage varies (BT Sport UK, TSN Canada, Kayo Australia).
What time does the main card start?
10:00 PM ET in the United States. That’s 3:00 AM BST (Oct 5) in the UK, 1:00 PM AEDT (Oct 5) in Australia.
Is this fight for a title?
Yes. Pereira defends his UFC light heavyweight championship against Ankalaev.
