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The Brazilian fighter required just one minute and 22 seconds to reclaim the light-heavyweight world championship after defeating his Russian opponent at UFC 320.

This victory occurred seven months after he experienced a decision defeat to the Dagestani fighter at UFC 313.

Pereira, that had evidently learned from his loss in March, did not hesitate by landing a powerful right hand.

The Vegas crowd exploded as the dual-weight titleholder stunned the his opponent with a clubbing right hand before referee Herb Dean called a halt following several powerful shots to the head.

"Retribution isn't a positive motive. I mentioned I wasn't in a good position last time but people doubted me, now everyone witnessed," Pereira commented following his victory.

"It didn't surprise me, I noticed in the first fight. I'm not one for excuses but I was unwell on that occasion."

The Russian fighter was looking for his thirteenth victory consecutively but connected with only two out of seven power shots, while 25 out of 37 from Pereira connected successfully.

After entering the UFC in 2021, Pereira has quickly transformed into one of the promotion's biggest stars, becoming a two-division champion in just seven bouts - a record time.

After capturing the middleweight title, Pereira moved up to light-heavyweight and, following his title win, his three defences in 2024 led to him being recognized as the promotion's top competitor alongside Ilia Topuria.

Pereira faced his biggest test in fighting Ankalaev, with the opponent preventing the fighter from landing his huge strikes in their first fight - but this wasn't an issue the second time around, with he thudding the side of his opponent's head early on.

Ankalaev had stopped the champion's streak of three title defences inside a year in the first encounter but the former champion now has a second defeat on his record - and first since March 2018.

Currently tied at one win apiece, a trilogy fight could decide who claims the ultimate superiority for good.

Pereira 'Wants to Fight at Heavyweight Division' - UFC President

Although he recaptured the 205-pound championship he surrendered in spring, the fighter has plans for transitioning an additional division to heavyweight, according to promotion president Dana White.

Prior to the second fight with Ankalaev, Pereira and his team told White of his wishes to transition to the heavyweight division. The UFC president stated at the post-fight news conference: "He expressed he wants to compete in the heavyweight division but I advised to focus on this fight initially. Opportunities remain in this division, but we'll consider."

"He has been an absolute stud for us. He competes when not at 100%, he doesn't care. He seeks to face all challengers and move up to heavyweight. There's a lot of things to discuss following this event."

Upon questioning what his reservations were on the fighter making the jump, the president responded: "He started as a middleweight - to advance two divisions in the organization, it differs from moving up two divisions in boxing."

"I don't have reservations but he's in a division where there remain so many fights."

'The Machine' Merab Dvalishvili Persists to Make Mark in UFC Annals

In the co-main event, Georgia's Merab Dvalishvili earned a commanding unanimous decision over the American Cory Sandhagen to retain his 135-pound championship.

The win was the champion's 14th consecutive win - elevating him to third place for most consecutive victories in UFC history. Just two other fighters, on fifteen, and Anderson Silva with 16 rank above.

The officials judged the bout with wide margins in favor of the titleholder.

"I'm like a machine. I continuously improve. I train hard. I feel like my journey is starting, I'm just starting and I continuously develop," stated Dvalishvili post-fight.

The Georgian, 34 years old, spent the entirety of the fight on the offensive and consistently kept Sandhagen on the defensive.

Despite the champion's self-assurance and impressive victory run, the challenger was not overawed and connected with 23 out of 48 power shots in the opening round, but the momentum shifted two minutes into the second round when the Georgian connected powerfully with a combination.

The American survived the onslaught but continued to be dominated, with the champion establishing a fresh organizational mark for the highest number of takedowns in a five-round bout with 20 on the way to victory.