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The Brazilian fighter needed only under a minute and a half to recapture the light heavyweight world championship after defeating his Russian opponent at UFC 320.

The victory came about seven months after he suffered a unanimous points loss to the Dagestani competitor at their previous encounter.

The 38-year-old, who had evidently learned from his setback in March, acted immediately by connecting with a massive right hand.

The Vegas crowd exploded as the two-division champion shook the 33-year-old with a clubbing right hand before referee Herb Dean stopped the fight following a number of powerful shots to the head.

"Revenge isn't a positive motive. I explained I wasn't in a good position last time but nobody listened, this evening you saw it," the champion commented after his win.

"I anticipated this, I saw it in the first fight. I'm not one for excuses but I wasn't 100% that night."

Ankalaev was aiming for his 13th win in a row but could only land two of his seven scoring blows, while 25 of Pereira's 37 landed effectively.

After entering the UFC in 2021, Pereira has rapidly evolved into one of the promotion's biggest stars, achieving a two-division champion in just seven bouts - an unprecedented pace.

After capturing the 185-pound championship, he moved up to light heavyweight and, following his title win, his three defences in 2024 resulted in him being named the promotion's top competitor alongside another champion.

The champion faced his biggest test in fighting Ankalaev, with the opponent preventing the Brazilian from connecting with powerful shots in their initial encounter - but this wasn't an issue the second time around, with he connecting powerfully of his adversary's head early on.

Ankalaev had stopped the Brazilian's streak of three successful defenses within twelve months in the initial bout but the former champion now has a second defeat on his record - and his first in over seven years.

Currently tied at one victory each, a third encounter could decide who claims the ultimate superiority forever.

Pereira 'Aims to Compete at Heavyweight Division' - White

Despite reclaiming the 205-pound championship he surrendered in March, the fighter has plans for moving up an additional division to the heavyweight class, according to promotion president the organization's head.

Prior to the second fight with Ankalaev, the champion and his team told the president of his intention to transition to the heavyweight division. The UFC president stated at the post-event press conference: "He expressed he wants to compete in the heavyweight division but I said to focus on tonight first. Opportunities remain here, but we'll see."

"He has been an absolute stud for us. He competes when he's hurt, he doesn't care. He wants to fight everybody and move up to the heavyweight class. There's a lot of things to talk about following this event."

When asked what his concerns were on Pereira making the jump, the president answered: "He was a middleweight - to advance two divisions in the organization, it's not like moving up two divisions in boxing."

"I'm not concerned but he's in a division where there remain multiple matchups."

'Machine' Dvalishvili Continues to Make Mark in UFC Annals

In the co-main event, The Georgian the bantamweight champion claimed a dominant judges' decision over the American Cory Sandhagen to defend his 135-pound championship.

This victory was the Georgian's 14th consecutive win - elevating him to third place for most consecutive victories in UFC history. Just Islam Makhachev and Kamaru Usman, on 15, and another legend with sixteen rank above.

The judges scored the bout 49-45 49-45 49-46 in favor of the titleholder.

"I am a machine. I keep getting better. My training is intense. I feel like my journey is starting, I'm just starting and I keep learning," stated Dvalishvili post-fight.

Dvalishvili, 34, spent the entirety of the fight on the offensive and constantly had Sandhagen on the defensive.

Despite the champion's self-assurance and daunting win streak, Sandhagen was not overawed and connected with 23 of his 48 power shots in the first round, but the tide turned two minutes into the second round when the champion connected powerfully with a flurry of strikes.

Sandhagen survived the onslaught but remained under pressure, with the Georgian establishing a new UFC record for the highest number of takedowns in a five-round bout with 20 on the path to winning.