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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 victory came about half a year after he experienced a unanimous decision loss to the Russian competitor at UFC 313.

The 38-year-old, that had evidently taken lessons from his loss in March, wasted no time by landing a huge right hook.

The audience in Las Vegas exploded as the two-division champion stunned the his opponent with a heavy blow before the official stopped the fight following several hard strikes to the head.

"Retribution isn't a good thing. I explained I wasn't in a good position in our first fight but nobody listened, this evening everyone witnessed," Pereira remarked after his win.

"It didn't surprise me, I noticed during our initial bout. I avoid excuses but I wasn't well on that occasion."

The Russian fighter was aiming for his 13th win consecutively but managed just two out of seven scoring blows, while 25 out of 37 from Pereira landed effectively.

After entering the UFC in 2021, the Brazilian has quickly transformed into one of the promotion's biggest stars, achieving a two-division champion in just seven bouts - an unprecedented pace.

After capturing the middleweight title, he moved up to light heavyweight and, following his title win, his three defences in 2024 led to him being recognized as the UFC fighter of the year together with another champion.

The champion encountered his toughest challenge in fighting Ankalaev, with the opponent preventing the Brazilian from connecting with powerful shots in their initial encounter - but this wasn't an issue the in the rematch, with Pereira connecting powerfully of his adversary's head early on.

The challenger had ended the Brazilian's streak of three title defences inside a year in the initial bout but the ex-titleholder now has a second defeat on his professional history - and first since March 2018.

Currently tied at one win apiece, a third encounter could decide who claims the bragging rights forever.

The Champion 'Aims to Compete at Heavyweight' - UFC President

Despite reclaiming the 205-pound championship he surrendered in March, the fighter has plans for transitioning another weight class to heavyweight, according to promotion president the organization's head.

Prior to the second fight with his opponent, Pereira and his team informed the president of his intention to advance to the heavyweight division. White stated at the post-fight news conference: "They say he wants to compete in the heavyweight division but I said to focus on this fight first. Opportunities remain here, but we'll consider."

"He has been an outstanding performer for us. He competes when not at 100%, it doesn't matter to him. He wants to fight everybody and move up 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's not like jumping up two weight classes in the sweet science."

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

'Machine' Merab Dvalishvili Continues to Write Name in UFC Annals

In the co-main event, Georgia's Merab Dvalishvili earned a commanding unanimous decision over the USA's Cory Sandhagen to retain his 135-pound championship.

This victory was the champion's 14th in a row - taking him up to third for most consecutive victories in organization history. Just Islam Makhachev and Kamaru Usman, on 15, and another legend with 16 rank above.

The officials judged the bout with wide margins in support of the champion.

"I am a machine. I continuously improve. My training is intense. I feel like I'm just beginning, I'm only getting started and I keep learning," said the champion post-fight.

The Georgian, 34 years old, spent the entirety of the fight on the front foot and consistently kept Sandhagen on the defence.

Although Dvalishvili's confidence and daunting win streak, the challenger was not overawed and landed 23 of his 48 power shots in the first round, but the momentum shifted two minutes into the second stanza when the champion landed heavy with a flurry of strikes.

Sandhagen endured the attack but remained under pressure, with the Georgian setting a new UFC record for the highest number of takedowns in a five-round fight with twenty on the way to victory.