Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev 2 Odds and Prediction for UFC 320 fight

Magomed Ankalaev beat Alex Pereira by unanimous decision in March to become the undisputed UFC light heavyweight champion. Now it's time for his first title defence, as the Dagestani all-round mixed martial artist will have another bout against heavy-hitting Pereira, who defended the belt three times previously.

MightyTips previews the main event of UFC 320, which takes place in T-Mobile Arena in Nevada on October 5, 2025, while also examining Pereira vs Ankalaev betting odds, talking about the styles of both fighters and what might be the scenario of the bout, and making a final prediction in the end.

Pereira was a heavy favourite ahead of the first fight between the two, but it's the opposite now. Ankalaev can be had at around 1.40, as the bookies believe he'll successfully defend his belt. The odds on Pereira to win start at 2.87, and he is the underdog this time round. If you'd like to bet on Ankalaev, we suggest waiting until the very last moment. Pereira has a huge fan base, and people will bet a lot on him closer to the fight, which should make the odds on Ankalaev winning much more attractive.

The Brazilian will definitely be the bigger fighter on the fightday. He cuts more weight and also has a significant 4-inch reach advantage. Ankalaev is five years younger and has much more MMA experience. Another thing to note is that Pereira took much more damage during his career, which includes 40 professional kickboxing fights. Finally, Ankalaev is a southpaw, and that makes Pereira's trademark left hook less dangerous.

Pereira is a kickboxer who relies on powerful striking. He prefers stand-up exchanges, using sharp leg kicks, heavy punches - especially the left hook - and high kicks. Poatan mixes range with counterattacks, feints, and explosive finishers. His calf and outside leg kicks are another key weapon, used to weaken the opponent's base to slow them down and limit their movement significantly.

However, he struggles when pressured against the cage or forced into clinch work, and his defence against low kicks can be inconsistent. His output also drops when opponents apply heavy pressure. The weakest point is definitely grappling and takedown defence, however, he stopped all takedowns by Ankalaev in the first bout.

To beat Ankalaev, Pereira should chop at the legs early, just like he did in March, maintain distance with footwork, and try to create openings for a knockout blow. He will need strong cardio and composure under pressure, but if he keeps the fight standing and at range, his power and precision give him the tools to win.

Pereira's last fights

Ankalaev fights with a calm, measured style built around precision striking and distance control, yet he has a strong sambo/greco-roman wrestling base. He uses a southpaw stance to his advantage, reading attacks and waiting for openings rather than rushing forward. Ankalaev can mix levels and use counterstrikes effectively when his opponent overextends. The work in the clinch is decent too - controlling opponents against the fence and landing knees.

Sometimes, the champion is being too cautious, though, which allows strikers to pick their spots freely. His defence against calf kicks and constant leg attacks wasn't perfect in past fights. Ankalaev may also struggle if forced into wild striking exchanges without using his grappling.

To beat Pereira, Ankalaev must impose his own pace, use pressure and mix grappling so that Pereira can't settle in with powerful punches. He should cut off the cage, control distance, and force the fight to remain uncomfortable for the opponent - either by neutralising his power with takedowns or by keeping him backed up and defensive. Good cardio, patient striking, and smart transitions into clinch or wrestling should help him defend the belt.

Ankalaev's last fights

Some pundits say that Pereira took the first fight lightly, as he was travelling a lot ahead of the bout and didn't train hard enough. His Instagram shows that he is much more serious now, working a lot with Glover Teixeira. However, Ankalaev was weakened by Ramadan in March, and he'll be stronger this time too. The fact is that he won most striking exchanges and clearly earned the victory in spring, even though the takedowns didn't work. Ankalaev is the faster fighter of the two, and while the puncher will always have a chance, that's the only key to success for Pereira. We must mention that Pereira winning the belt is a much more favoured outcome for the UFC. If the fight is very close, which we doubt it will be, the judges might rob Ankalaev. However, the champion should defend his belt here, and we predict that he'll do that by decision.