UFC 320 was intended to be Magomed Ankalaev’s opportunity to establish dominance, but it may have revealed much more than defeat. Just as the dust settled after Alex Pereira’s first-round knockout, a new twist emerged. A leaked video showed Ankalaev in a medical room, wincing as a doctor pressed his ribs. And apparently, it was shot 20 days before the fight, making Ali Abdelaziz’s post-fight comments no longer seem like excuses; instead, they were ignored warnings.
Journalist Leo Guimaraes shared the footage on social media, which confirmed that Ankalaev was actually injured going into the fight. And despite what his team, especially his manager, wanted, the Russian eventually chose to fight. The timing of the video couldn’t be more damning, as it came after Abdelaziz hinted that his fighter entered the Octagon “physically compromised.”
Seeing Magomed Ankalaev’s clear agony during the rib inspection in the clip provided fresh credibility to what many had dismissed as typical post-loss justification. Abdelaziz himself appeared reluctant to detail what went wrong but still hinted that things behind the scenes weren’t right. “There’s a lot of things happened with Ankalaev in his camp,” he said. “If it was up to me, he should never have fought this time. But he’s a grown man, he makes his own decisions, and he lives by his actions.” His words now have more context, especially since video footage confirmed the rib condition. And once you watch the finish of the fight again, the impact of the injury becomes even clearer.
Pereira’s final flurry, a combination of elbows and punches aimed at Ankalaev’s midsection, landed exactly where the rib was thought to be fractured. What once looked like Alex Pereira’s trademark precision now seems like cruel irony. Magomed Ankalaev, attempting to protect his ribs, folded under pressure, and Pereira’s finish became both spectacular and tragic in hindsight.
Ali Abdelaziz hints that Magomed Ankalaev went into last night’s fight against Alex Pereira physically compromised. “Saturday night, Magomed Ankalaev fought Alex Pereira. In the rematch, and Alex Pereira won. Congratulations to him and his team. I know his coaches, managers,… pic.twitter.com/QdRUhpWH3H – Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 6, 2025
Nonetheless, ‘Poatan’ deserves respect for coming into the rematch with confidence and fire after losing the first time. But the revelation shifts the narrative: Ankalaev’s performance was more than just a loss; it was a battle fought under invisible weight.
Competing with a fractured rib tests more than just toughness; it also affects respiration, movement, and endurance, which no fighter can entirely overcome inside the cage. So now that we know about it being a major reason behind the 56-second finish, will we get to see a rematch? A trilogy between the two warriors?
Alex Pereira may deny Magomed Ankalaev an opportunity
Alex Pereira made it clear even before the rematch: he doesn’t look back. The Brazilian champion views each fight as a final chapter. So, while Magomed Ankalaev’s rib injury has raised discussions about fairness and unfinished business, Pereira’s position remains intact. For ‘Poatan,’ the story ended when the referee stopped the fight at UFC 320.
His statements prior to the bout hinted at that mindset. “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,” Pereira stated. What seemed like pre-fight confidence is now more like closure. Even when Ankalaev’s corner raised three fingers to Glover Teixeira for a trilogy, Teixeira’s head shake revealed everything.
The Brazilian had moved on. And that might be the grim reality for Magomed Ankalaev. His injuries may heal, but his opportunity for redemption may not come soon. Pereira’s attention is now directed elsewhere, to new challenges such as Jiri Prochazka or Carlos Ulberg. A trilogy makes sense in theory, but Alex Pereira believes the chapter is closed and the belt is moving forward.