UFC 320 Main Event: Magomed Ankalaev Vs. Alex Pereira 2 Opening Odds
Financial News
Forbes

UFC 320 Main Event: Magomed Ankalaev Vs. Alex Pereira 2 Opening Odds

July 23, 2025
03:11 PM
8 min read
AI Enhanced
moneyfinancialsportsentertainmentmarket cyclesseasonal analysisdata analysis

Key Takeaways

We look at the opening betting odds for the main event of the UFC 320 fight card, a light heavyweight title fight rematch: Magomed Ankalaev Vs. Alex Pereira 2

Article Overview

Quick insights and key information

Reading Time

8 min read

Estimated completion

Category

financial news

Article classification

Published

July 23, 2025

03:11 PM

Source

Forbes

Original publisher

Key Topics
moneyfinancialsportsentertainmentmarket cyclesseasonal analysisdata analysis

Market analysis reveals From an analytical perspective, I find it compelling that SportsMoneyUFC 320 Main Event: Magomed Ankalaev Vs

Alex Pereira 2 Opening OddsByTrent Reinsmith, Contributor

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights

Moreover, Trent Reinsmith is a Baltimore-based writer who covers MMA and hockey

AuthorJul 23, 2025, 03:11pm EDTLAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 08: (L-R) Alex Pereira of Brazil touches gloves with Magomed Ankalaev of

More Russia in the UFC light heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 313 event at T-Mobile Arena on March 08, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)Zuffa LLC UFC 320 has a main event, and that main event is a light heavyweight title fight rematch, in light of current trends

On Saturday, October 4, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, current UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev puts his title on the line against the man he took the belt from, Alex Pereira

We look at the opening betting odds for the Ankalaev vs

However, Pereira 2 matchup

ForbesDana White Announces 3 Huge UFC 320 Fights, Including 2 Title BoutsBy Brian Mazique UFC 320 Fight Card Main Event: Magomed Ankalaev Vs, in light of current trends

Alex Pereira 2 Opening Betting Odds Not long after UFC CEO Dana White announced the UFC 320 main event, BetOnline came out with betting lines for the fight, amid market uncertainty

Ankalaev opened as the -220 betting favorite over Pereira in their upcoming rematch (an important development)

Pereira opened as the +185 betting underdog

Less than 24 hours since White announced the matchup, Ankalaev has dropped to -200, while Pereira is now +170 (an important development)

However, UFC 320 Fight Card Main Event: Magomed Ankalaev Vs, in today's financial world

Alex Pereira 2LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 08: Magomed Ankalaev of Russia reacts after a unanimous-decision victory

More against Alex Pereira of Brazil in the UFC light heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 313 event at T-Mobile Arena on March 08, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)Zuffa LLC Magomed Ankalaev (20-1-1-1) has been a member of the UFC roster since 2018

Additionally, Ankalaev lost his UFC debut when Paul Craig submitted him at 4:59 of the third round

Since then, Ankalaev has gone 13 fights without a loss, given the current landscape

Furthermore, MORE FOR YOU Ankalaev secured a title fight in December 2022 when he faced former UFC champion Jan Blachowicz for the vacant light heavyweight crown

Additionally, However, that contest in a split draw, and with neither man impressing the matchmakers in that matchup, the UFC opted not to give either man a second go at earning the belt, in this volatile climate

Since then, Ankalaev is 2-0-0-1 with a no contest (illegal knee) against Johnny Walker, and most recently a decision win over Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 308, in light of current trends

When the UFC opted to give UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira a fight against Khalil Rountree at UFC 307 and bypass Ankalaev, he felt snubbed by the motion, but also motivated. “Now everybody knows I'm not fighting for the title and will fight Rakic in Abu Dhabi

Furthermore, Whoever (UFC matchmaker) Mick Maynard gives me I will smash their face so that they can no longer deny me if I do my job impressively, considering recent developments

I feel sorry for whoever is gonna fight me from now going forward,” Ankalaev said at the time

Not long after that, Ankalaev said that Pereira was running from him

When the UFC booked the UFC 313 matchup between Ankalaev opened as the -200 favorite over Pereira, who was listed at +170 (noteworthy indeed)

On fight night, Pereira had moved to a -120 betting favorite over the +100 Ankalaev

The bout lasted 25 minutes, given the current landscape

At the end of the contest, Ankalaev earned a unanimous decision win (49-46, 48-47, 48-47)

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 08: (R-L) Magomed Ankalaev of Russia strikes Alex Pereira of Brazil in the

More UFC light heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 313 event at T-Mobile Arena on March 08, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada

Moreover, (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)Zuffa LLC At the time, I wrote of Ankalaev, "Magomed Ankalaev and his team put together, implemented, and stuck with a strong game plan for Saturday's fight against Alex Pereira

This leads to the conclusion that strategy was to pressure Pereira, land effective strikes, keep the threat of a takedown in Pereira's head, and exploit his lack of defensive movement

Meanwhile, Ankalaev did just that, seeming to freeze Pereira over the final 20 minutes of the fight and avoid taking any serious damage

Moreover, "Fans might not have d the performance, and the UFC is most ly not going to be overjoyed to see the light heavyweight title move from a knockout artist Pereira to a fighter Ankalaev, who is known more for decisions than stoppages, but that's where they are ing UFC 313 (fascinating analysis). “Ankalaev fought smartly and effectively, managing risk while doing enough damage to carry all three scorecards

Fans don't have to it, but there's no controversy in the decision (this bears monitoring). ”LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 08: Alex Pereira of Brazil enters the Octagon in the UFC light heavyweight

More championship fight during the UFC 313 event at T-Mobile Arena on March 08, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)Zuffa LLC Alex Pereira (12-3) began 2023 by losing his UFC middleweight title to Israel Adesanya by knockout, given current economic conditions

Furthermore, In July, Pereira ed that setback with a win over former UFC light heavyweight title holder, Jan Błachowicz, in his UFC debut at 205 pounds

He the year by knocking out ex-UFC light heavyweight kingpin Jiří cházka at UFC 295 to claim the vacant UFC 205-pound title (which is quite significant)

On the other hand, Pereira made his first defense of his crown in April when he knocked out(another) ex-UFC light heavyweight champ, Jamahal Hill, in the first round of their UFC 300 matchup

Pereira showed his power is on another level, when he Hill 3:14 into the first round of the main event of UFC 300, given the current landscape

Moreover, In June, on very short notice, the UFC called on Pereira and cházka to headline UFC 303 when the Conor McGregor vs, in this volatile climate

However, Michael Chandler fight fell off that card

After the bout, which Pereira won via a knockout 13 seconds into the second stanza, I wrote: "Pereira showed that his first win over chazka wasn't a fluke

This leads to the conclusion that UFC light heavyweight champ is a fearsome fighter who packs a lot of power in his strikes, but he's also an extremely focused competitor who doesn't let anything bother him. “Pereira effectively scored two knockouts on Saturday night, blasting former champion Jiri chazka to the mat at the bell to end the first round and then sending him right back down in the opening moments of the second round with a head kick. ” In August the UFC booked Pereira against Khalil Rountree Jr for the main event of UFC 307, which took place on October 5

However, Pereira outclassed Rountree, putting a beating on his opponent before scoring a fourth-round TKO win

On the other hand, Pereira picked up his third UFC title defense of 2024 on Saturday night

Pereira let his opponent, Khalil Rountree Jr, tire himself out in the early going of the fight while simultaneously slowing him with powerful kicks to Rountree's lead leg

Pereira picked up the pace in the third round, fighting very effectively behind his jab, given current economic conditions

That jab opened up several nasty cuts around Rountree's eye and on the bridge of his nose

Those blows hurt Rountree, and once Pereira had Rountree fading, he picked him apart with precision and power, forcing the referee, Marc Goddard, to stop the fight in the fourth round, given current economic conditions

Goddard could have stopped this much sooner

Pereira was in the running for fighter of the year for 2024, in light of current trends

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 08: Alex Pereira of Brazil reacts after the UFC light heavyweight

More championship fight against Magomed Ankalaev of Russia during the UFC 313 event at T-Mobile Arena on March 08, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada

On the other hand, Additionally, (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)Zuffa LLC ing his UFC 313 loss to Ankalaev, I wrote the ing the vanquished champion: "Alex Pereira lost his UFC light heavyweight title on Saturday night, falling by unanimous decision to Magomed Ankalaev

Pereira did not seem to have a game plan to answer the pressure and forward motion of his opponent

With Ankalaev leading the dance in the final 20 minutes, Pereira seemed unable or unwilling to switch the momentum of the fight

It was a puzzling performance from the man who entered UFC 313 with an aura of invincibility him. “Pereira’s inability to fight off his back foot and inability to keep his head off the center line while defending strikes were especially noticeable on Saturday night

However, ”ForbesUFC 321: Dana White Announces Main Event For Abu Dhabi CardBy Brian Mazique We will have more on UFC 320, including opening betting odds for the co-main event, amid market uncertainty

Editorial StandardsRes & PermissionsLOADING PLAYER.