The UFC returns to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas this weekend for a stacked fight card that features two championship matchups, including a highly anticipated rematch.
UFC 320 is headlined by Magomed Ankalaev looking to go 2-0 against Alex Pereira after the Russian took the light-heavyweight title from the Brazilian at UFC 3013 in March. The organization decided to run it back.
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Watch UFC 320 on Sportsnet+
Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira meet in a championship rematch and Merab Dvalishvili looks to defend his title vs. Cory Sandhagen. Watch UFC 320 on Saturday, Oct. 4 with prelim coverage beginning 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, and pay-per-view main card starting at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
Although Ankalaev won the fight on all judges’ scorecards, it was a competitive bout. One judge had it four rounds to one (49-46) for Ankalaev but the other two had it 3-2 (48-47). Ankalaev out-landed the former kickboxing star 94-76 in significant strikes but Pereira was able to defend all 12 of Ankalaev’s takedown attempts.
Afterwards, Periera acknowledged that he wasn’t close to being 100 per cent healthy. In an interview with Ariel Helwani, “Poatan” confirmed that he fought through a hand injury that was significant enough for him to contemplate withdrawing from the matchup.
Earlier this month, Pereira told The Brian Campbell Experience, through a translator, that he wasn’t fully healthy for the first Ankalaev fight.
“I was about 40 per cent on that night and obviously it’s going to be much more this time. But if I’m only 50 per cent, that 10 per cent is going to make such a great difference. I’m going to leave no doubt for everybody,” he said.
The rivals had a brief-but-contentious encounter at the UFC Performance Institute last week in Las Vegas with the pair communicating through an app that translates different languages. Pereira said he didn’t appreciate some comments Ankalaev has made in recent months on social media and confronted him about it.
Pereira’s coach and former UFC light-heavyweight champ Glover Teixeira said this week on UFC Embedded that his pupil is looking sharp and in great shape as he aims to avenge his first loss since moving up from the middleweight division, where he was also a champion.
“Anything can happen in a fight but this is definitely going to be a different fight,” Teixeira said.
The fighters in the co-main event have also been trading barbs in the leadup to their bantamweight championship matchup.
Reigning 135-pound champion Merab Dvalishvili is looking for his 14th consecutive win when he defends his belt against Cory Sandhagen.
Dvalishvili has been saying in the build-up to this bantamweight title fight that he plans on becoming the first fighter to knock Sandhagen out. Perhaps it’s merely gamesmanship from the champ, who boasts dominant wrestling, but the challenger with several highlight-reel knockouts of his own has warned that would be a bad idea.
What do the odds say?
The first fight between Pereira and Ankalaev was basically a pick’em with Pereira only a slight minus-120 favourite in the days leading up to UFC 313. The rematch is a different story with Ankalaev a minus-263 favourite several days before UFC 320 and Pereira listed as a two-to-one underdog, according to BetMGM.
Meanwhile, Dvalishvili is expected to retain his title, according to the oddsmakers who have him listed as a sizeable minus-400 favourite. Sandhagen is roughly a three-to-one underdog at +305.
What does the full fight card look like?
In addition to the two championship fights, Saturday’s main card features a pair of exciting 205-pound contenders with Jiri Prochazka taking on Khalil Rountree Jr. Both Prochazka and Rountree Jr. have challenged for the title within the past 15 months, but both were stopped by Pereira. Prochazka and Rountree Jr. are each coming off wins over former titleholder Jamahal Hill with Prochazka getting a TKO in January and Rountree Jr. a five-round unanimous decision in June.
Former Ilia Topuria opponents meet in featherweight action when Josh Emmett looks to end Youssef Zalal’s hot streak. Emmett and Zalal are the only two fighters that have gone the distance with Topuria, the former undisputed featherweight champ who has since become a titleholder at lightweight after moving up in weight. Emmett, 40, is coming off a decision loss to top contender Lerone Murphy in April, but remains one of the hardest punchers in the division. Zalal, 29, has won seven in a row overall, including a decision over veteran Calvin Kattar in February.
Joe Pyfer kicks off the main card against Abusupiyan Magomedov in middleweight action. Pyfer is looking for a third consecutive win; Magomedov is seeking his fourth in a row. Pyfer expressed disappointment that he couldn’t get a finish over Kelvin Gastelum his last time out but he is always a threat to end a fight with one punch.
MAIN CARD (subject to change)
— Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira (five rounds for light-heavyweight title)
— Merab Dvalishvili vs. Cory Sandhagen (five rounds for bantamweight title)
— Jiri Prochazka vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.
— Josh Emmett vs. Youssef Zalal
— Abusupiyan Magomedov vs. Joe Pyfer
PRELIMINARY CARD (subject to change)
— Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Andre Muniz
— Chris Gutierrez vs. Farid Basharat
— Daniel Santos vs. Joosang Yoo
— Macy Chiasson vs. Yana Santos
— Patchy Mix vs. Jakub Wiklacz
— Punahele Soriano vs. Nikolay Veretennikov
— Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Austin Vanderford
— Veronica Hardy vs. Brogan Walker
Will there be a live UFC 320 eigh-in show?
Sportsnet’s Aaron Bronsteter and former UFC fighter Diana Belbita will broadcast live from Las Vegas on Friday as they report the official weights for UFC 320 athletes and speak to some of the participating fighters. Fans can watch the live weigh-in show on Sportsnet.ca, Sportsnet+ and Sportsnet’s YouTube channel beginning at approximately 11:55 a.m. ET / 8:55 a.m. PT.
There will be a one-pound allowance for all non-title bouts, but both Pereira and Ankalaev must weigh no heavier than 205 pounds for their title fight to be made official, and Dvalishvili and Sandhagen must weigh no heavier than 135 pounds.
What else is happening during fight week?
Bronsteter and Belbita will have one-on-one interviews with the stars from UFC 320 throughout the week.
Media Day, Oct. 1: Official media events begin Wednesday when participating athletes will speak with gathered reporters at the UFC Apex.
Pre-fight press conference, Oct. 2: A half-dozen UFC 320 main card athletes will participate on Thursday from the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Ankalaev, Pereira, Dvalishvili, Sandhagen, Prochazka and Rountree Jr., are all scheduled to field questions. The event is open to the public and will be available to stream live on Sportsnet+ beginning at approximately 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.
Ceremonial weigh-in, Oct. 3: Several hours after the official weigh-in wraps up on Friday and the athletes have begun the rehydrating process, the fighters will square off with their respective opponents at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on the eve of UFC 320. This will also be available to stream live on Sportsnet+ beginning at approximately 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.
The fights, Oct. 4: Live preliminary card coverage from T-Mobile Arena will begin on Sportsnet 360 and Sportsnet+ beginning at approximately 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT with the pay-per-view main card set to start at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.
