The countdown to UFC 320 is now reaching the T-minus phase. In a matter of hours, the fighters will enter the T-Mobile Arena to put on a good show for the fans. Finally, fans will find out if Alex Pereira can get his revenge against Magomed Ankalaev in one of the most anticipated rematches ever. Meanwhile, we’ll also see if Merab Dvalishvili can remain the bantamweight king by defeating Cory Sandhagen. But it’s not just the headliners that carry the stakes.

The entire main card is set to grab undivided attention on October 4. Fights like Jiri Prochazka vs. Khalil Rountree Jr. and Josh Emmett vs. Youssef Zalal promise pure fireworks. However, beyond the action, these matchups offer the winners valuable opportunities to climb the ladder and cement their positions for the ultimate prize. And surely, they are going to fight it out to achieve that status. So, without further ado, let’s explore the possible outcomes for each main event fight at UFC 320. Starting with the main event.

Alex Pereira could struggle against Magomed Ankalaev once again  

Well, it’s not a stretch to say that the rematch between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev is going to steal the spotlight. Since ‘Poatan’ lost his belt at UFC 313, fans have been eager to find out whether he can redeem the most crucial defeat of his career. In their previous fight, Ankalaev was both praised and criticized for his wrestling-heavy approach. Yet, people often overlook that the Dagestani champ also caught ‘Poatan’ several times on the feet, nearly knocking him out in the second round.

From there, ‘Big Ank’ kept pressing forward, making it difficult for the former champ to establish his rhythm in pursuit of the 205-lb title. Still, credit must be given to Pereira for fending off every takedown attempt, which has only added intrigue to this rematch. Could a few key adjustments flip the outcome this time?

‘Poatan’ has already hinted that he plans to be more aggressive and land cleaner shots on Ankalaev at UFC 320. However, in doing so, he might also open up opportunities for the reigning champ to counter. And one well-timed shot could once again change everything for the former two-division champion. With that threat in mind, combined with Ankalaev’s relentless takedown attempts, it’s looking like the Dagestani champion might retain his belt.

As the reigning light heavyweight champ appears to be the favorite heading into the main event, another question remains—what about the co-headliner? Can Merab Dvalishvili remain the bantamweight king? 

Merab Dvalishvili likely to hold onto bantamweight throne

Merab Dvalishvili has emerged as one of the most dominant champions the bantamweight division has ever seen. After defeating Umar Nurmagomedov and Sean O’Malley twice, ‘The Machine’ now carries an almost invincible aura. One that’s pushing him toward becoming the greatest 135-pound champion of all time. Many already rank him just below Dominick Cruz, but if he manages to defeat Cory Sandhagen at UFC 320, he might very well surpass him. Still, that’s not going to be easy.

‘The Sandman’ has a distinct ability to find unconventional openings, keeping the threat of a knockout alive at any moment. For example, Cory Sandhagen’s flying knee against Frankie Edgar in 2021 remains one of the most creative knockouts ever. Although years have passed since that highlight, the Colorado native has continued to sharpen his striking while also developing his wrestling, as he showcased in his performances against Rob Font and former flyweight champ Deiveson Figueiredo.

However, as much as Sandhagen has evolved, it’s hard to imagine him dominating Merab in a five-round battle. While it’s certainly possible that he could catch the Georgian with something big, the more likely scenario is that ‘The Machine’ will rely on his relentless grappling and nonstop takedown attempts—possibly even shattering the 100-takedown record. 

That said, if Merab Dvalishvili manages to retain his title for the third time, we can undoubtedly call 2025 the “Year of Machine.” Now that we’ve explored the possible outcomes of the headliners, let’s shift focus to the other three fights on the UFC 320 card—which are equally, if not more, exciting than the top two bouts.

Possible winners of UFC 320 featured main card bouts

Beneath the co-main event, the light heavyweight bout between Khalil Rountree Jr. and Jiri Prochazka is a certified banger. This fight has all the ingredients to become a Fight of the Year contender. But that’s not all! The winner could also emerge as the frontrunner to challenge the UFC 320 main event winner, whether it’s Alex Pereira or Magomed Ankalaev. It’s a high-stakes matchup, and both fighters are expected to leave everything inside the Octagon. However, Prochazka might have a slight edge over Rountree Jr. in this clash.

Although both men are highly skilled, it seems that ‘BJP’ carries more sting behind his punches. On top of that, his unorthodox style makes it a nightmare to predict his angles and timing. That unpredictability is what makes him so dangerous, and it’s likely that he’s also the favorite to win this fight. Before this highly anticipated clash takes place, two more bouts will set the tone for the night.

The featherweight showdown between Josh Emmett and Youssef Zalal is another exciting matchup. Although Emmett might be the hardest puncher in the 145-pound division after Ilia Topuria, it’s clear that he’s going through a bit of a decline. Especially after his recent loss to rising contender Lerone Murphy. In this fight, ‘The Moroccan Devil’ presents a similar challenge, and if things go his way, Zalal could very well defeat the featherweight veteran and climb further up the rankings.

Then comes the main card opener: Joe Pyfer vs. Abus Magomedov, which is a tricky matchup to call. While ‘Bodybags’ possesses tremendous power in his hands, his recent fights have shown a recurring issue—he tends to fade in the later rounds if he doesn’t secure an early knockout. Against Abus, whose only losses have come to Sean Strickland and Caio Borralho, that could become a real problem if the fight reaches the third round. However, the Dagestani-German doesn’t have the strongest chin in the middleweight division, and for that reason, Pyfer gets the nod to start the night with a vicious first-round knockout.

So, these are some of the possible outcomes we see for UFC 320. Which fighters are your picks for the event? Let us know in the comments below!