The build-up to UFC 320 has fans buzzing as Alex Pereira finally gets his chance at revenge. Magomed Ankalaev walked out of UFC 313 with the light heavyweight belt, leaving ‘Poatan’ flat-footed and dethroned. Now, the Brazilian striker looks to prove that night was a fluke for the Dagestan champ. But was it Ankalaev’s skill that shut Pereira down? Or did Pereira contribute to his own downfall?

That’s the question raised by Michael Bisping and his breakdown of Pereira’s mistakes paints a picture of a fighter who lost more outside the Octagon than inside!

“Didn’t pull the trigger” – Michael Bisping on Alex Pereira’s loss to Magomed Ankalaev

In a recent video uploaded on his YouTube channel, where he previewed the highly-anticipated rematch, ‘The Count’ stated, “You see action. You see violence. You can see people getting put to sleep in brutal fashion. However, last time out, that wasn’t the case. He (Pereira) went up against Magomed Ankalaev. He lost the belt, he lost a decision pretty soundly to be honest.”

According to ‘The Count’, “And he didn’t really do much in the fight. He didn’t pull the trigger. Of course, he was on an insane schedule. He was fighting frequently. Maybe he was a little burned out. And he was also flying all over the world. And we spoke about this at the time, I did videos on this.”

In fact, Alex Pereira‘s story leading up to UFC 313 backs that claim. The Brazilian had been on an incredible run, four title defenses in just 13 months. He became the UFC’s golden goose, headlining cards and producing highlight-reel knockouts that made him a must-watch star. But behind the incredible performances inside the Octagon, his calendar was chaos.

He was in Sean Strickland‘s corner in Sydney, made appearances in Korea, and bounced between continents. His defense was that he could train anywhere, with his team following him worldwide. He even told critics like Daniel Cormier that, “I can say to Daniel Cormier and a bunch of the other specialists saying that I shouldn’t have gone out there that I’ve been in this situation before. It’s actually been worse before when I was in Australia and had signed up to fight, but didn’t even know I was going to do that. This time it was all very planned out, I knew what I was going to do.”

But, as Michael Bisping pointed out in his recent YouTube video, “He was maximizing on the opportunity of being the champion and trying to rake in all the money that he could and just enjoy the moment.  Why not? There’s nothing wrong with that. However what comes first is the fights. And I do believe that was a factor in the Magomed Ankalaev fight, why he lost the fight, because he did look a little bit flat.”

Flat was exactly the word fans used that night. Alex Pereira, usually a storm of power and precision, seemed hesitant. Magomed Ankalaev actually outstruck him in a bout many described as forgettable. The decision wasn’t controversial. It was just clear.

Now, with UFC 320 approaching, the stakes are simple: redemption or a repeat of their first fight. However, ‘Poatan’ has already come out and predicted that this will be the last chapter in his story with the Russian fighter!

Magomed Ankalaev warned by Alex Pereira as he proclaims UFC 320 is where the “story” ends

Alex Pereira isn’t looking at his rematch with Magomed Ankalaev as the start of a trilogy. Instead, he views UFC 320  in Las Vegas as the end of a rivalry that began back at UFC 313. Avenging his loss would even the score between them, but Pereira insists he doesn’t see a third fight on the horizon.

In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, ‘Poatan’ explained, “I think the story will be over, it’s obviously out of my control. It’s up to the UFC. If they want to do it again, I’ll fight anyone. To be honest, from everything we’ve seen, I think with him losing, I don’t think he’s going to fight for the title any more.”

He even admitted UFC 313 was a tough fight, but this time, he believes he can flip the script as he confessed, “It’s always going to be a tough fight. Both [of us] want to win. Both want to take the title. I’m going to do my best and I’m going to do everything I can to be feeling extra well on that night”

His plan? Keep the pressure, dictate the pace, and finally show the ‘Poatan’ that fans were used to before Ankalaev smothered his offense. Pereira emphasized his goal clearly as he further shared, “to be able to impose my rhythm and be able to impose my gameplan and be able to come out with the win.”

As per reports, Ankalaev enters the fight as a -210 favorite, while Pereira sits as a +160 underdog. And so, Michael Bisping believes Alex Pereira’s burnout and globe-trotting lifestyle left him flat the first time, while Pereira himself insists those lessons have fueled a sharper, more focused version of ‘Poatan.’ Both perspectives set the stage for a clash that’s about more than a belt; it’s about legacy!