Just over seven months removed from his title loss to Magomed Ankalaev, the version of Alex Pereira which showed up at UFC 320 was truly night and day.
Reclaiming his light heavyweight championship in the pair’s immediate rematch, Brazilian megastar Alex Pereira needed just 80 seconds to avenge his prior defeat to Russian rival Magomed Ankalaev.
And firmly putting all the wrongs from March right overnight in ‘Sin City’, Pereira began with a fast start to put Ankalaev on the back foot from the get-go in their headliner.
But with another era of ‘Poatan’ firmly among us, let’s look at the tactical changes Pereira and co implemented for UFC 320.
An aggressive Alex Pereira approach
Back in March, former two-weight champion Pereira — as so often during his championship tenure in the promotion — elected to play the role of red rag to a bull against Ankalaev.
And much to his detriment, the Sao Paulo star failed to really ever get out of the starting blocks or first gear against the emerging Ankalaev, who pressed him against the Octagon fence time and time again.
However, just seconds into last night’s rematch, Pereira managed to take center of the Octagon — a spot he would not relinquish for the entirety of the short fight.
Targeting the upper frame of Ankalaev whilst cageside, Pereira would walk the Russian onto his less-than-favored right hand and stray away from patiently setting up his thudding leg kicks.
And forcing Ankalaev to circle away from his dominant left death touch, Pereira found his opening through this method, stinging Ankalaev with a huge overhand right.
Usually swarming so effectively when he’s got an opponent in danger, circa fights with Israel Adesanya and his recent win over Khalil Rountree, Pereira’s insistence on creating his own openings against Ankalaev was the key to last night’s eventual success.
Forcing Magomed Ankalaev to change
Given his aggressive, pace-pushing start against Ankalaev, Pereira almost immediately forced the defending champion to change his game plan — possibly within just the opening crash impact.
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Now forced to fight from the back foot, with his own back against the Octagon fence this time, to counteract those devastating leg kicks — Ankalaev even switched from southpaw to orthodox in the early stages of the clash.
Failing to land that thudding left hand on occasion during their March matchup, Pereira’s effectiveness in walking Ankalaev to his opposite side proved a more than shrewd move in setting up the eventual finish, too.
Another special performance from Pereira, who firmly takes his crown back and again clutches the baton as the sport’s biggest star the world over.