Daniel Cormier has a number of advice for Alex Pereira after his return was announced for UFC 320.
For the first time since the end of 2023, Pereira will enter the Octagon as a challenger at the pay-per-view in Las Vegas on October 4. 'Patan' was returned to that status last March, when Magomed Ankalaev Pereira beat UFC 313 to end the Brazilian violent region.
After months of uncertainty and claim that the former champion did not accept countless Rematch offers, Dana White Ankalaev vs. confirmed Pereira 2 for the main event of UFC 320. Many count the kickboxing legend given that his first fight with the Dagestani played, with Chael Sonen, even a chance of Pereires against Ankalaev.
If 'Patan' is wrong him and his other opponents, Cormier thinks he knows what the 38-year-old should do.
Alex Pereira has demanded the victory in Rematches against six different opponents in MMA and Kickboxing 😧
Will he have his salvation against Magomed Ankalaev on #UFC320? pic.twitter.com/i5kxa7odep
– UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) July 23, 2025
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Daniel Cormier tells Alex Pereira to move forward from the start in Magomed Ankalaev Rematch
During a recent episode of his Good Guy/Bad Guy show next to Sonnen on the ESPN MMA YouTube channel, Cormier looked ahead to the next title fight in one of the two divisions he once ruled.
Pereira was stuck on his rear foot for a large part of the UFC 313 head event, and 'DC' it says that this cannot be the case on 4 October if the Brazilian will regain the light heavyweight crown.
“This is the fight that has to happen,” said Cormier. “Pereira deserves the chance to try that wrong.
“Alex struggled much better than we had expected (on UFC 313). He defended Takedowns much better than we expected … Now it is up to them, Plinio (Cruz) and Glover (Teixeira) … to achieve it where Alex can actually do it and not be against the octagon.
“That is where the difference should happen,” Cormier continued. “He was not brought down, but he was checked … He was supported all the time. How is he progressing without Ankalaev actually pressing him?
“I think he should get some respect from him very early, Chael, to take Ankalaev back a few steps … … how does Pereira get that respect, to ensure that this fight does not play exactly like the last?”
Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira is at the top of what looks like a stacked PPV
Ankalaev's first title defense against Pereira will be the UFC 320 curtain closer, but the line -up is not short of intriguing matchups to determine the stage for the main event.
The light heavyweight collision is not the only title that can be seen in Las Vegas's T-Mobile Arena. After Merab Dvalishvili Sean O'Malley again defeated, he will now be confronted with Cory Sandhagen's challenge in his third defense of the Bantam weight throne.
And before the headliners of the championship, all eyes will be on a crucial fight on 205 pounds as former champion Jiri PrOCHAZKA and ex-title Challenger Khalil Rountree Jr. collide in the pursuit of the place opposite the UFC 320 winner along the line.
More fighting will be announced in the coming weeks.