Alex Pereira has joined GOAT contender Jon Jones in the history books.
Saturday’s UFC 320 pay-per-view marked an incredibly successful night for one of the sport’s biggest fan favorites and leading stars.
In the main event at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, Pereira brutally knocked out Magomed Ankalaev in the first round to make good on his promise to get revenge on the Dagestani.
With that, ‘Poatan’ is back on the throne at 205 pounds less than seven months after being unseated. And that fact has seen Pereira achieve an incredibly rare feat in the division.
Before Pereira achieved two-division glory in late 2023 and began a violent reign that would last three successful defenses, the light heavyweight title had been passed around somewhat like a hot potato.
After Jon Jones’ final stint with it ended in 2019, Jan Blachowicz, Glover Teixeira, Jiri Prochazka, and Jamahal Hill all held the crown at points across a three-year period.
Three of those names have tried and failed to regain the top spot in the division, but the same cannot be said for Pereira after Saturday’s result in ‘Sin City’.
‘Poatan’ became the first light heavyweight to recapture the title since Jones did so against Alexander Gustafsson seven years ago, making the ex-Glory Kickboxing champ only the third two-time king in the division’s history.
In addition to Jones, the legendary Randy Couture also enjoyed more than one reign at 205 pounds.
Having joined Jones in the two-time light heavyweight champ club, Pereira wants to replicate another of the American’s feats inside the cage down the line.
The Brazilian has long teased a move up to heavyweight, and comments pre-UFC 320 regarding his size and growing struggle to keep the pounds down suggested it may happen sooner rather than later.
Dana White poured cold water on Pereira’s plans during his post-fight press conference on Saturday, but ‘Poatan’ still reiterated his goal during backstage interviews, even listing it as his desired next step over a defense of the 205-pound belt.
