Call him an “old kickboxer” with no speed? Think again. At UFC 320, Alex Pereira didn’t just reclaim his light heavyweight crown—he proved once again why his name belongs among the all-time greats. Seven months after Magomed Ankalaev dismantled him at UFC 313, fans expected history to repeat itself. However, inside the roaring T-Mobile Arena, the Brazilian rewrote the script. The Brazilian walked in calm but fought like a storm—his strikes cracked like thunder, and his pressure never relented.

Every punch carried defiance; every movement demanded respect. Those who once doubted his speed or timing watched him close the distance and seize full control of the fight. It took just 80 seconds. With precision and power, Alex Pereira launched a vicious flurry of punches and elbows that sent Ankalaev crashing to the canvas. As a result, the Russian powerhouse lay motionless while ‘Poatan’ stood tall over him.

Alex Pereira’s coach puts an end to trilogy talk with Ankalaev’s squad

When the referee waved it off, the arena exploded. Alex Pereira’s corner erupted, the broadcast crew jumped from their seats, and fans celebrated like it was a festival. Meanwhile, even before the referee raised the Brazilian’s hand, new drama unfolded. Magomed Ankalaev’s teammate flashed a “three” gesture toward Glover Teixeira, signaling for a trilogy. Teixeira answered with a flying kiss while waving his hands off—shutting down the request with confidence and swagger.

Championship Rounds captured the moment perfectly on X, posting, “Glover Teixeira’s reaction to Ankalaev’s team asking for a trilogy.” The clip went viral within minutes. Clearly, Teixeira had a point. Alex Pereira didn’t scrape by on a decision or land a late stoppage; he finished Magomed Ankalaev clean, leaving no room for argument. Therefore, a trilogy doesn’t make sense when the second fight ended in total destruction. Even the Brazilian made it clear last month before UFC 320, saying, “I think the story will be over.”

For now, it is. The rivalry stands at 1–1, but the momentum belongs entirely to Alex Pereira. As the two-time champion reigns again, Magomed Ankalaev must return to the drawing board. Moreover, a trilogy won’t happen anytime soon, especially after former champion Jiri Prochazka made a thunderous statement by knocking out Khalil Rountree Jr. on the UFC 320 undercard. Still, Pereira is charting his own course, keeping his destiny firmly in sight.

Pereira sets sights on headlining UFC White House card

Alex Pereira has long harbored a dream to become a three-division UFC champion. Since last year, he has been relentless, calling Dana White and the UFC again and again, demanding a showdown with Jon Jones in a heavyweight “super fight.” Even Jon Jones himself has expressed the same desire over the past year. Yet, Dana White and the UFC largely ignored these calls, and the prospect of the fight gradually faded from the spotlight.

Earlier this year, the UFC landscape shifted dramatically. Alex Pereira’s momentum stalled after UFC 313, where he lost his belt to Magomed Ankalaev, and the summer brought another shakeup as Jon Jones vacated his title and stepped away from the sport. Then, in July, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a UFC White House event to mark the nation’s 250th birthday. In a surprising turn, Jones expressed his desire to emerge from retirement to appear on the card scheduled for next year—even after the UFC CEO had shut down his chance to be part of the White House event.

Until yesterday, Alex Pereira had remained silent about appearing on the historic card. But after dominating Magomed Ankalaev in the UFC 320 main event, he made his intentions crystal clear. At the post-fight press conference, he demanded the long-awaited clash with Jones, declaring: “Heavyweight…I want a superfight. It would be at the White House against Jon Jones.”

How do you see an Alex Pereira vs. Jon Jones showdown playing out on the White House card? With Conor McGregor also circling for a spot on the same event, who do you think deserves the headline? Share your verdict below.