Nov 11, 2023; New York, NY, USA; Alex Pereira (blue gloves) celebrates after beating Jiri Prochazka (red gloves) during UFC 295 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

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Glover Teixeira Promises A More Ruthless Alex Pereira In UFC 320 Magomed Ankalaev Rematch

Losing a title fight changes a fighter in ways that only other champions can truly understand. The sting of having gold slip through your fingers creates a special kind of motivation that goes beyond normal training camp intensity. Alex Pereira experienced this harsh reality at UFC 313 when Magomed Ankalaev outworked him over five rounds to claim the light heavyweight belt. This left the Brazilian striker searching for answers after a performance that felt completely unlike his usual dominant self.

The aftermath of that loss sparked endless debates among fans who couldn’t believe what they had witnessed. This was the same Alex Pereira (12-3) who had knocked out former champions and established himself as one of the most feared strikers in the sport. Yet against Ankalaev he looked hesitant and unable to impose his will. Now his longtime coach and mentor has made a bold promise about what fans can expect when these two meet again. Glover Teixeira’s prediction deserves serious attention from anyone planning to bet against the Brazilian’s comeback chances.

What Went Wrong In The First Fight?

The first encounter between Pereira and Ankalaev at UFC 313 started exactly how most people expected it would. Pereira came out aggressive in the opening round, looking to establish his striking range and land the kind of power shots that have made him famous throughout his combat sports career. For those first five minutes, everything seemed normal and fans settled in expecting another classic Pereira knockout performance that would add another highlight to his already impressive resume.

A strong end to Round 2 for the challenger 👀@AnkalaevM | #UFC313 pic.twitter.com/6A45hoJ259
— UFC (@ufc) March 9, 2025

But something changed after that opening frame, and not in a good way for the Brazilian. Ankalaev began using his wrestling background to drag Pereira into uncomfortable positions against the cage. The striker’s power became neutralized and his energy started getting drained. Instead of the explosive, forward pressing fighter that fans had come to love, Pereira appeared tentative and reactive, waiting for opportunities that never materialized while Ankalaev controlled the pace and location of their exchanges.

The most frustrating part for Pereira’s supporters was watching him search for that one big shot to change everything instead of working systematically to break down his opponent. This approach had worked against previous opponents who were more willing to stand and trade. But Ankalaev’s patient game plan exposed some holes in Pereira’s approach that many hadn’t noticed before. By the final bell, it was clear that the champion had been outworked thoroughly.

Glover Teixeira Promises A Different Alex Pereira

Glover Teixeira was recently interviewed on the “Overdogs Brasil” podcast. He painted a picture of a training camp that’s focused on addressing the specific problems that cost Pereira the belt. According to Teixeira, the rematch will be brutal because Pereira plans to press the action from the opening bell and maintain that pressure throughout all five rounds.

“The first round will be brutal. It’s not that he will come angry, but he will come with the same aggressive attitude. This fight will be much more dynamic. ‘Poatan’ will be pressing the entire time.”

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This promise of increased aggression makes perfect sense when fans consider what went wrong in their first meeting. Pereira’s best moments came when he was walking forward and forcing exchanges. But too often he allowed Ankalaev to dictate where and how their fight took place. Teixeira seems confident that his fighter has learned from those mistakes and will enter UFC 320 with a completely different mindset about how to approach this specific matchup.

(Image Credit: Wendell Cruz – Imagn Images)

Alex Pereira

Glover Teixeira

Magomed Ankalaev

UFC 320

Zaid Quraishi

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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!