Ankalaev-Pereira 2, Merab-Sandhagen Headline UFC 320

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Two Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) title fights are headed to “Sin City” later this year.

Today (Tues., July 22, 2025), UFC CEO Dana White announced on Instagram that UFC Light Heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev will face Alex Pereira

in a rematch at UFC 320 on Sat., Oct. 4, 2025, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, the same venue where “Poatan” lost his coveted title.

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Ankalaev snatched the title from Pereira earlier this year at UFC 313 (March 8, 2025), defeating the Brazilian knockout

artist via a competitive unanimous decision.

Ankalaev (20-1-1) is riding a 12-fight unbeaten streak (including a draw and a no-contest). The Russian has notable wins over Aleksandar Rakic, Johnny Walker, Anthony Smith, and Thiago Santos.

Pereira (12-3) aims to become a two-time Light Heavyweight champion in October, adding to his already impressive UFC legacy. During his reign, he defended his title three times, achieving UFC history with the shortest time for three consecutive title defenses (175 days).

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

In the co-main event of UFC 320, No. 4-ranked Cory Sandhagen (18-5) finally gets his long-awaited shot at Bantamweight champ Merab Dvalishvili (20-4).

“The Machine” has been unstoppable, defending his title twice in 2025—first against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 and then submitting Sean O’Malley in their heated rematch at UFC 316 (watch highlights).

Sandhagen earned his crack at gold with a second-round TKO over former Flyweight champ Deiveson Figueiredo in May 2025 at UFC Des Moines, capitalizing on Figueiredo’s knee injury (watch highlights).

Despite a 2024 loss to Nurmagomedov, “Sandman’s” slick striking and three prior wins over Rob Font, Song Yadong, and Marlon Vera make him a dangerous challenger.

Can Sandhagen derail Dvalishvili’s reign, or will “The Machine” keep rolling?

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

In addition to the two title fights, a Light Heavyweight No. 1 contender fight takes place in UFC 320’s “Featured Fight” slot, as former 205-pound king Jiri Prochazka takes on former title challenger Khalil Rountree.

Both Prochazka (31-5-1) and Rountree (14-6-1) are coming off wins over Jamahal Hill, with Prochazka knocking him out at UFC 311 (watch highlights) and “War Horse” earning a unanimous decision at UFC Baku.

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