Alex Pereira sends chilling warning to Magomed Ankalaev ahead of UFC 320 rematch

Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira will have an opportunity to rewrite a wrong next Saturday at UFC 320 when he rematches Magomed Ankalaev for Ankalaev’s light heavyweight title.

Pereira saw his championship run come to a close in March, losing a unanimous decision to Ankalaev at UFC 313 in an underwhelming showing from the Brazilian.

Pereira spoke to CBS Sports recently ahead of the rematch, revealing a major flaw that tipped the fight in Ankalaev’s favor and led to the belt changing hands.

“I think the conditioning I was going into that fight with, honestly, I was about 40%," Pereira said via translation. “I'm going to be much more this time. Even if I'm 50% [in the rematch], that 10% is going to make such a difference. I'm going to leave no doubt for everybody."

Pereira got into an altercation with Ankalaev at the UFC Performance Institute, as the trash talk has heated up ahead of the rematch.

Alex Pereira Sends Brutal Message To Magomed Ankalaev Before UFC 320

Pereira lost to Ankalaev at UFC 313 — Mar 8, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Alex Pereira (red gloves) fights Magomed Ankalaev (blue gloves) during UFC 313 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images | Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev beefing through Google Translate at the UFC PI 😭

“October 4th I’m going to slap you. I will smack you with an open hand.” pic.twitter.com/mwgckFuuUt
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) September 26, 2025

Pereira recalled how the altercation went down, describing it as “funny” among other adjectives.

“Something funny happened just now when I was leaving the PI. I saw Ankalaev's coach there. I stayed myself, I didn't see Ankalaev there," Pereira said. “When I got to the car, someone from my team was still inside, and he heard the girl from the PI say to Ankalaev, 'He can come now, he's already left.'”

Pereira says Ankalaev is looking to pick a fight just under a week before the fight, which Pereira says couldn’t be more false.

"Damn, he was hiding. They hid the guy in a little room. This guy thinks I'm going to run into him and start fighting. Do I look stupid, bro?"

The full encounter between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev at the UFC PI

Ankalaev really hit him with the 'NO CHAMA' at the end 😭

🎥 @AlexPereiraUFC #UFC320 pic.twitter.com/NnVvMCTzod
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) September 26, 2025

No matter how the fight plays out, there is no love lost between these two stars. It’s clear, too, that the fight is personal for Pereira. Pereira had not suffered defeat since a UFC 287 KO loss to Israel Adesanya during Pereira's stint at middleweight. Having lost to Ankalaev, Pereira does not want to experience a similar feeling in the same city seven months later.

Barring anything unforeseen, Pereira knows what he is up against next Saturday night in his quest to reclaim gold.