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The Brazilian fighter required just 82 seconds to reclaim the light-heavyweight title after overcoming his Russian opponent at the Las Vegas event.

This triumph occurred seven months after he experienced a unanimous decision loss to the Russian fighter at their previous encounter.

Pereira, who had evidently taken lessons from his loss in March, wasted no time by landing a massive right hand.

The audience in Las Vegas cheered loudly as the two-division champion shook the 33-year-old with a powerful strike before the official ended the bout following several powerful shots to the head.

"Vengeance is never a good thing. I told everyone I wasn't at my best in our first fight but nobody listened, this evening it was evident," the champion stated post-fight.

"It didn't surprise me, I saw it during our initial bout. I avoid excuses but I wasn't 100% that night."

The Russian fighter was seeking his thirteenth victory consecutively but connected with only two of his seven significant strikes, while 25 out of 37 from Pereira landed effectively.

After entering the UFC in 2021, Pereira has quickly transformed into one of the promotion's biggest stars, achieving a dual-weight titleholder in only seven fights - a record time.

Upon winning the 185-pound championship, Pereira moved up to light heavyweight and, following his title win, his three successful defenses in 2024 resulted in him being named the UFC fighter of the year together with another champion.

Pereira faced his biggest test in facing Ankalaev, with the Russian blocking the Brazilian from landing his huge strikes in their initial encounter - but this wasn't an issue the second time around, with he thudding the side of his adversary's head in the opening moments.

Ankalaev had stopped the champion's streak of three successful defenses within twelve months in the initial bout but the ex-titleholder now has a second defeat on his record - and his first in over seven years.

Currently tied at one win apiece, a trilogy fight could determine who takes the ultimate superiority forever.

The Champion 'Wants to Fight at Heavyweight' - UFC President

Although he recaptured the 205-pound championship he surrendered in March, Pereira has plans for moving up another weight class to heavyweight, according to promotion president Dana White.

Before the rematch with Ankalaev, the champion and his camp told White of his desire to advance to the heavyweight division. White told the post-fight news conference: "He expressed they want to fight at heavyweight but I advised to focus on tonight first. Opportunities remain in this division, but we'll see."

"He has been an outstanding performer for us. He competes when not at 100%, he doesn't care. He wants to fight all challengers and advance to heavyweight. There's a lot of things to discuss after tonight."

Upon questioning what his reservations were on Pereira making the jump, the president answered: "He started as a 185-pound fighter - to advance two divisions in the organization, it differs from moving up two divisions in boxing."

"I'm not concerned but he competes in a weight class where there remain multiple matchups."

'The Machine' Dvalishvili Continues to Write Name in History Books

In the co-main event, Georgia's the bantamweight champion earned a dominant judges' decision over the USA's Cory Sandhagen to defend his 135-pound championship.

The win was the champion's 14th consecutive win - taking him up to third place for longest win streak in UFC history. Only two other fighters, on 15, and another legend with 16 rank above.

The judges judged the bout 49-45 49-45 49-46 in support of the titleholder.

"I'm like a machine. I keep getting better. My training is intense. It seems I'm just beginning, I'm only getting started and I continuously develop," said the champion post-fight.

The Georgian, 34 years old, was in control of the fight on the front foot and constantly had his opponent on the defence.

Despite Dvalishvili's confidence and daunting win streak, the challenger was not intimidated and connected with 23 of his 48 significant strikes in the opening round, but the momentum shifted during the second stanza when the champion connected powerfully with a flurry of strikes.

Sandhagen survived the onslaught but remained under pressure, with the Georgian establishing a fresh organizational mark for the most takedowns in a five-round fight with 20 on the path to winning.