Mar 8, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Alex Pereira (red gloves) fights Magomed Ankalaev (blue gloves) during UFC 313 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

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“No Questions About The Outcome”- Magomed Ankalaev Makes Shocking Claim Ahead of Alex Pereira Rematch At UFC 320

Mar 8, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Alex Pereira (red gloves) fights Magomed Ankalaev (blue gloves) during UFC 313 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Rematches in MMA often carry more drama than the original fights. The losing fighter wants revenge while the winner tries to prove their victory wasn’t a fluke. Add some trash talk and personal grudges into the mix, and you’ve got a recipe for fireworks! The light heavyweight division has always been home to some of the sport’s most explosive encounters, and this upcoming rematch promises to deliver more of the same intensity.

Magomed Ankalaev shocked the MMA world earlier this year when he defeated Alex Pereira to claim the light heavyweight title. The Dagestani fighter ended Pereira’s incredible run at 205 pounds with a narrow decision victory that left many fans wanting more. Pereira had looked unstoppable before that fight, knocking out everyone and building a reputation as one of the most feared strikers in UFC history. His loss to Ankalaev marked his first defeat at light heavyweight and opened the door for an immediate rematch that fans have been eagerly anticipating.

Magomed Ankalaev Wants ‘No Excuses’ This Time Around

The new champion isn’t mincing words ahead of their UFC 320 rematch in Las Vegas. Talking to Sport24ru, Ankalaev has made it crystal clear that he wants Pereira to show up at 100 percent health with no room for excuses after the fight ends. This bold stance shows incredible confidence from the Dagestani fighter, who apparently dealt with some criticism after their first encounter. Some fans and media members suggested that Pereira might not have been at his best due to illness and minor injuries leading up to their initial clash.

“I actually want him to come into this fight 100% so there are no questions about the outcome. I don’t want to hear talk like last time about him not being ready or something not being done…I want him to be in great shape so that after our fight he has no excuses.”

Magomed Ankalaev says the rematch with Alex Pereira will be 'much easier' than the first fight 👀

"I actually want him to come into this fight 100% so there are no questions about the outcome. I don't want to hear talk like last time about him not being ready or something not… pic.twitter.com/pcgMSOfbKI
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) August 25, 2025

Ankalaev has extended his winning streak to an impressive 14 fights with that victory over Pereira back in March. Now he’s practically daring the Brazilian to bring his absolute best version to their rematch. The champion wants to silence any doubters who might question the legitimacy of his title reign. He seems almost eager to prove that his first victory wasn’t just lucky timing against a distracted opponent. This rematch should settle any lingering questions about who truly deserves to hold the light heavyweight crown.

(Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – Imagn Images)

Alex Pereira

Magomed Ankalaev

UFC 320

Zaid Quraishi

mma

I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!