Magomed Ankalaev has officially launched his training camp as he prepares to defend his UFC light heavyweight title. The champion, undefeated in the division since 2018, won the belt by defeating Alex Pereira via unanimous decision at UFC 313. With their much-anticipated rematch set for October 4 at UFC 320, Ankalaev has started rigorous preparations to maintain his championship reign.

Following the UFC CEO Dana White’s announcement confirming Pereira’s immediate title shot, Ankalaev quickly responded by promising to finish Pereira in their upcoming fight. At 33 years old, Ankalaev is focused on preserving his undefeated streak since his initial UFC loss in 2018 against Paul Craig.

Alex Pereira Eager to Regain Light Heavyweight Championship

Known as “Poatan,” Alex Pereira is a prominent figure within the UFC roster and enters the rematch aiming to reclaim his light heavyweight title. After capturing the vacant belt at UFC 295 by stopping Jiří Procházka, Pereira defended it successfully three times. His run at light heavyweight began after a short stint as the UFC middleweight champion.

Pereira’s middleweight reign concluded at UFC 287 following a defeat in a rematch against his old kickboxing rival, Israel Adesanya. There was recent speculation about Pereira moving up to heavyweight after sharing a video showing him weighing well above 205 pounds, but those rumors were dispelled by Dana White’s confirmation of the UFC 320 matchup.

Alongside the headline bout, UFC 320 will also feature bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili attempting to defend his belt for the third time against Cory Sandhagen. Pereira pointed to a need for rest after his demanding run at light heavyweight but will have an opportunity on October 4 to improve upon his previous showing and challenge Ankalaev’s dominance.

Upcoming UFC 320 Event Highlights

UFC 320 is shaping up to be a pivotal event with a stacked fight card featuring top contenders and reigning champions. Ankalaev versus Pereira marks the main event, with significant implications for the light heavyweight division’s future. The co-main event features bantamweight titleholder Merab Dvalishvili facing Cory Sandhagen in a bout that could define the division’s landscape.

With Ankalaev’s promising start of camp and Pereira’s resolve to regain his title, fans anticipate a competitive clash. This rematch presents an opportunity for Pereira to hand Ankalaev his first loss in years and for Ankalaev to solidify his position at the top of the light heavyweight class.