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The Brazilian fighter needed only 82 seconds to regain the light heavyweight world championship after stopping Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320.

The victory came seven months after he suffered a unanimous decision loss to the Dagestani competitor at UFC 313.

The 38-year-old, who had evidently learned from his loss in spring, acted immediately by connecting with a huge right hook.

The audience in Las Vegas erupted as the two-division champion stunned the 33-year-old with a powerful strike before referee Herb Dean stopped the fight following a number of powerful shots to the head.

"Vengeance is never a good thing. I told everyone I wasn't in a good position in our first fight but people doubted me, tonight everyone witnessed," the champion commented after his win.

"It didn't surprise me, I observed in the first fight. I avoid excuses but I was unwell that night."

Ankalaev was looking for his thirteenth victory in a row but managed just two out of seven power shots, while 25 of Pereira's 37 connected successfully.

After entering the UFC in 2021, Pereira has rapidly evolved into a top draw, becoming a two-division champion in just seven bouts - a record time.

After capturing the middleweight title, Pereira transitioned to light-heavyweight and, following his title win, his three successful defenses in 2024 led to him being named the promotion's top competitor together with another champion.

The champion encountered his toughest challenge in facing his rival, with the Russian blocking the Brazilian from connecting with powerful shots in their initial encounter - but that was not a problem the second time around, with he thudding the side of his adversary's head in the opening moments.

Ankalaev had ended the Brazilian's run of three successful defenses inside a year in the first encounter but the ex-titleholder now has a second defeat on his record - and his first in over seven years.

Now locked at one win apiece, a trilogy fight could determine who claims the ultimate superiority for good.

The Champion 'Aims to Compete at Heavyweight Division' - White

Although he recaptured the light-heavyweight title he lost in March, Pereira has plans for moving up another weight class to heavyweight, according to promotion president the organization's head.

Prior to the second fight with Ankalaev, Pereira and his team informed the president of his desire to transition to heavyweight. White stated at the post-event press conference: "They say he wants to fight at heavyweight but I advised to focus on tonight first. There are still fights here, but we'll see."

"He has been an outstanding performer for us. He fights when injured, he doesn't care. He seeks to face all challengers and move up to the heavyweight class. There's a lot of things to talk about after tonight."

When asked what his concerns were on Pereira transitioning divisions, White responded: "He started as a 185-pound fighter - to advance two divisions in the UFC, it's not like jumping up two weight classes in the sweet science."

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

'Machine' Merab Dvalishvili Persists to Make Mark in History Books

During the featured bout, The Georgian the bantamweight champion earned a commanding unanimous decision over the USA's Cory Sandhagen to retain his 135-pound championship.

The win was the Georgian's 14th in a row - elevating him to third place for most consecutive victories in UFC history. Just Islam Makhachev and Kamaru Usman, on fifteen, and Anderson Silva with 16 rank above.

The officials judged the fight 49-45 49-45 49-46 in support of the titleholder.

"I'm like a machine. I continuously improve. I train hard. It seems I'm just beginning, I'm just starting and I continuously develop," stated the champion post-fight.

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

Although the champion's self-assurance and daunting win streak, the challenger was not overawed and connected with 23 out of 48 power shots in the first round, but the tide turned during the second round when the champion landed heavy with a series of blows.

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