UFC Hall of Famer and former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans has made his prediction for the highly anticipated light heavyweight title fight between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev, set to headline UFC 320.
The two men have already met once before, with Ankalaev getting the better of Pereira. But according to Evans, things will be very different this time around. Speaking recently on The Bohnfire Podcast, Evans said he expects Pereira to return to the Octagon sharper, more prepared, and fully committed to making the changes needed to reclaim control of the matchup.
“Alex, when I saw him last, he looked completely locked in,” Evans explained. “He’s making sure he’s surrounding himself with the right people, with the right training partners, and he’s putting himself in the position where he can fight with confidence. He knows what he’s capable of, and when he’s in that space, he can beat anyone.”
Evans placed a lot of emphasis on Pereira’s team, which includes former UFC champion Glover Teixeira and longtime coach Plinio Cruz, praising them for ensuring Pereira has both the technical preparation and mental clarity to thrive under the spotlight. He suggested that Pereira’s calm, focused demeanor combined with world-class coaching could be the deciding factor when the cage door closes at UFC 320.
At the same time, Evans acknowledged the enormous stakes for Pereira. Already a two-division UFC champion, Pereira has achieved more in just a handful of fights than many fighters manage in their entire careers. But Evans noted that if Pereira doesn’t get past Ankalaev this time, the Brazilian star may be left with only one major option: moving up to the heavyweight division to pursue a fresh challenge.
“Alex has so much riding on this fight,” Evans said. “If he can’t get it done here, the next step might be testing himself at heavyweight. But I think he knows what’s at stake, and that’s why I’m picking him.”
With UFC 320 quickly approaching, Pereira will have the chance to prove Evans right. The matchup not only represents a chance at redemption against Ankalaev but also an opportunity to solidify his place as one of the most accomplished fighters in UFC history.