UFC 320 Recap: Pereira's Stunning Revenge & Dvalishvili's Record

Content Fingerprint: a36d1b27ffdae74e-1759651942-21735

Let me tell you, the energy at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on October 4th was absolutely electric. UFC 320 was billed as a massive event, and it delivered more than anyone could have expected. The prelims set the stage with some solid finishes, but the main card took things to a whole new level. It was, without a doubt, one of the best series of main card performances we've seen all year.

Key Highlights

• ✓ Alex Pereira reclaims the UFC light heavyweight title with a stunning first-round TKO over Magomed Ankalaev in just 80 seconds.
• ✓ Merab Dvalishvili extends his winning streak to 14 and becomes the first UFC fighter to record over 100 takedowns, landing 20 against Cory Sandhagen.
• ✓ Jiří Procházka stages an incredible comeback, finishing Khalil Rountree Jr. in the third round after being down on the scorecards.
• ✓ Youssef Zalal continues his tear through the featherweight division with a quick first-round verbal submission win over veteran Josh Emmett. It's worth noting that
• ✓ Joe Pyfer kicked off the main card with a second-round submission victory, weathering an early storm to finish Abus Magomedov.

Pereira's Redemption: A Shocking 80-Second Statement

The main event was a rematch that had everyone talking. Alex Pereira was looking to reclaim the light heavyweight title he'd lost to Magomed Ankalaev just seven months prior in a five-round decision. Pereira had been saying he wasn't himself in that first fight, even telling ESPN he was only at "40 percent" capacity due to a fractured tibia and illness. Honestly, a lot of people probably thought that was just an excuse. Not anymore.

From the opening bell, this was a completely different "Poatan. " He immediately marched Ankalaev down, showing him absolutely no respect. He closed the distance, landed a massive overhand right to the temple, and everything changed in an instant. Ankalaev went for a panic-shoot takedown, but Pereira stuffed it with ease and started raining down punches and elbows. Referee Herb Dean had no choice but to step in at just 1:20 of the first round. It was a stunning, dominant performance.

This win wasn't just about getting the belt back; it was about making a point. Ankalaev's coach had dismissed Pereira as an "traditional kickboxer" with no speed. Well, that "traditional kickboxer" just delivered the quickest finish of his MMA career and the second-quickest title fight in UFC light heavyweight history. Now a three-time UFC titleholder, Pereira is only the third person ever to win the light heavyweight belt twice, joining legends like Randy Couture and Jon Jones.

💡 What's Interesting: After the fight, Pereira said, “Vengeance is never a good thing. It’s kind of a poison sometimes. I told everyone I was not in a good condition last time. Nobody believed it. You saw it. Research findings show that ”

The Machine Keeps Rolling: Dvalishvili Makes History

In the co-main event, we witnessed something truly special. Merab Dvalishvili, "The Machine," put his bantamweight title on the line against the incredibly tough Cory Sandhagen and turned in a performance for the history books. A notable point here is He secured his third successful title defense of the year with a dominant unanimous decision win, but the real story was the record he shattered.

Going into the fight, Merab needed just three takedowns to become the first fighter in UFC history to hit the century mark. This brings us to He didn't just get three; he landed an incredible 20 takedowns on Sandhagen throughout the fight, bringing his career total to a staggering 117. Sandhagen actually had a good first round, using his length and landing crisp shots. But Dvalishvili is just relentless. In the second round, he hurt Sandhagen on the feet and looked close to a finish.

From that point on, it was the Merab exhibit. Every time Sandhagen started to build momentum, Dvalishvili would drag him back to the canvas like a ragdoll. It was a masterclass in pressure and grappling. With the win, the 34-year-traditional Georgian extended his winning streak to 14 fights. He's in the middle of one of the greatest runs the sport has ever seen, and honestly, it's hard to imagine who can stop him right now.

The Main Card Was an Absolute Thrill Ride

The rest of the main card was just as spectacular. Former champ Jiří Procházka gave us a heart-stopping comeback against Khalil Rountree Jr. For two rounds, it looked like Rountree's speed and technique were too much for Jiří, who seemed a bit off-balance. But in the third, Procházka came out like a man possessed, turning the fight into an absolute brawl and overwhelming Rountree with pressure to get the devastating KO finish. It's important to highlight It was a gutsy, vicious performance that keeps him right in the title picture.

Then you had Youssef Zalal, who just continues to look more and more impressive. He faced the powerhouse veteran Josh Emmett and made it look easy. Zalal immediately shot for a takedown, twisted Emmett to the canvas, and smoothly transitioned to an armbar that forced a verbal tap just 98 seconds into the fight. Since returning to the UFC, Zalal is now 5-0 with four finishes, firmly establishing himself as a serious contender at 145 pounds.

And kicking the whole pay-per-view off was Joe Pyfer, who secured the biggest win of his career against Abus Magomedov. Pyfer admitted Magomedov "kicked my ass" in the first round with his grappling, but "Bodybagz" was completely unfazed. He came out in the second, hurt Magomedov on the feet, and chased the finish on the ground, eventually sinking in a rear-naked choke for the submission. It was a fantastic display of resilience and a great way to start an unforgettable main card.

Conclusion

When the dust settled in Las Vegas, UFC 320 will be remembered as one of those nights that just had everything. A notable point here is We saw a stunning and definitive act of revenge from Alex Pereira, who is once again the king of the light heavyweights. We witnessed history being made by the unstoppable force that is Merab Dvalishvili. And from top to bottom, the main card was packed with incredible comebacks, slick submissions, and pure heart. It was a perfect night of fights that reminded us why we love this sport so much.