After knocking out Magomed Ankalaev to regain the light heavyweight championship at UFC 320 on Saturday, Alex Pereira was asked repeatedly what he wanted from his next move, and his answer was consistent: “I want a fight at heavyweight,” he said through his interpreter.
UFC CEO Dana White wasn’t so sure, telling reporters at the UFC 320 press conference that he was hesitant about a fighter who began his UFC career because a middleweight could jump two weight classes to heavyweight. But Pereira’s mind seems made up, so allow us to explore the options for him at heavyweight, as well as the upcoming challenges for UFC 320 stars such as men’s bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili, Cory Sandhagen and breakout performer Youssef Zalal.
Alex Pereira, light heavyweight
Who should be next: Winner of Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane
I don’t see any reason to get cute here. Carlos Ulberg deserves a title fight at Light Heavyweight. I would love for Jirí Procházka to fight for a title again, especially given that there were unique circumstances surrounding his two losses to Alex Pereira (in 2023 and 2024). But Pereira is such a special case right now. He’s arguably the biggest star on the UFC roster, and there are mega-leaks for him at heavyweight – namely a potential matchup against England’s champion, Aspinall. If Aspinall beats Gane at UFC 321 in Dubai later this month, the table is set for a blockbuster champion versus champion matchup, and I simply don’t believe a heavyweight title defense against Ulberg or Procházka is worth giving up on. Pereira is 38 years old. The clock is ticking for him at this point. The UFC should maximize the time he’s gone, move him up to heavyweight and let him try to become the first three-weight champion. He can always return to light heavyweight later.
Wild Card: Jon Jones
Firstly, condolences to the Jones family on the tragic loss of Jon’s older brother, Arthur. Family and health are far more important than any MMA fight, but if Jones wants to fight again, as he said, a match against Pereira is one of the most likely scenarios. I have said, and I will continue to say, I think the only fight the UFC should book for Jones is aspinall, because that is the fight he owes to the sport, the fans, the UFC and aspinall. On the one hand, Jones has the right in the world to stay retired – but if he comes out of retirement, this is the fight that should happen. The UFC was also pretty harsh on Jones fighting Aspinall. But things are changing, and Jones-Pereira is also a megafight. It would be very foolish to suggest that this cannot happen.
Merab Dvalishvili, male naughtyweight
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Merab Dvalishvili defeats Cory Sandhagen to retain bantamweight title
Merab Dvalishvili wins by unanimous decision over Cory Sandhagen to retain his UFC bantamweight championship.
Who should be next: Pepr
It matters, but it doesn’t matter. Dvalishvili is so ridiculously active that every competitor is going to get shot. We don’t have to worry about anyone being excluded. Dvalishvili wants to fight them all – apparently with only a few months left. He already defeated Yan once back in 2023, and it was a blowout. If we’re honest, there’s not a ton of reason to believe the rematch will be any different. It’s nothing against Yan, it’s just an acknowledgment of how special Dvalishvili is. But as Dvalishvili said after his victory on Saturday, it’s MMA, there’s always a chance for an upset, and Yan is undeniably world class. Dvalishvili wants to fight again in December, so hopefully the UFC allows him to become the first champion to win four title fights in a calendar year.
Wild Card: Yadong song
Yadong would likely be the first fighter the UFC would call if Yan wasn’t available, but there’s no reason at this point to think he won’t be. It will be Yan, especially if it happens this year.
Cory Sandhagen, men’s bantamweight
Who should be next: Sean O’Malley
Sandhagen will likely need some time after this five-round fight, and he’ll need to overcome the disappointment that comes from fighting – and losing – to Dvalishvili. He performed well on Saturday, and the fight ended with him moving forward, waving defiantly for Dvalishvili to come back for him. I believe he will regroup very well, and when he does, it will be O’Malley waiting for him. O’Malley could fight in the meantime, as he is already mentioning the likelihood of a fight in early 2026. No matter what happens, if O’Malley fights someone else and wins or he loses or he doesn’t fight, this match between Sandhagen and O’Malley has to happen. It’s been a long time coming.
Wild Card: Yadong song
It’s possible that O’Malley and Yadong could meet in early 2026. Depending on whether that happens and what the outcome is, Yadong could make more sense for Sandhagen next. But I kind of doubt it. It’s actually pretty wild that O’Malley and Sandhagen haven’t fought yet. Stylistically, it has the creation of a beautiful fight, with the potential for a multifight rivalry. Yadong and Sandhagen have fought before, and Sandhagen stopped him via TKO in 2022. I believe Yadong will have the opportunity to avenge this loss, and that’s something I want to see, but pretty soon it will start to feel downright silly to keep putting off the O’Malley fight.
Youssef Zalal, featherweight
Who should be next: Arnold Allen
Zalal was primed for a Top 10 escape in his last fight – but even though he beat Calvin Kattar in the co-main event of a UFC fight night in February, it wasn’t the most exciting performance. He caught Josh Emmett at UFC 320. It was the breakthrough, the dominant performance that Zalal was looking for. The 29-year-old has all the potential in the world, and Allen would be a very fun and relatable matchup for him. Allen suffered some setbacks against division-best Max Holloway and Movsar Evloev in 2023 and 2024, respectively, but he bounced back with a win over Giga Chikadze last July. This fight might be fireworks, if it stayed up, but it would be world class wherever it went.
Wild Card: Diego Lopes
I don’t hate callout at all – at all. UFC matchmaking likes to strike while the iron is hot, and Lopes is coming off a sensational knockout of Jean Silva last month. Zalal just won his eighth fight in a row in style. If the UFC announced a five-round main event fight between these two, it would be well received. I still like Lopes vs. Yair Rodriguez next, but that’s the only reason I can find to not book this Lopes vs. Zalal match.
Joe Pyfer, middleweight
Who should be next: Michael “Venom” page This is kind of wild to me, because Page is not a middleweight. He’s a welterweight. But right now, he’s a middleweight. Does this make sense? Of course, that’s not the case, but that’s where we are with Page right now. He’s most relevant at 170 pounds, but he took some big fights at 185 and he did so well, he actually ranked #10 in the division. I still don’t see him as a “title contender” at middleweight; He’s more of a name to use in big fights, and a fight against Pyfer would be pretty big. Pyfer has hype and is rising through the ranks. If Page isn’t long for the middleweight rankings anyway, why not put his number on the line against fresh-faced Pyfer. By the way, I really wanted to see Page Fight Carlos Prates in Brazil, but Prates ended up drawing Leon Edwards instead, so that’s a nice substitute. Wild Card: Kevin Holland Pretty much everything I just said about Page, apply it here. Holland is much more relevant at Welterweight, but he is more than willing to fight in both weight classes. He would be a great name to associate with Pyfer. Holland isn’t ranked at middleweight, but that’s okay. This fight would provide Pyfer with leverage and – should he win – set him up with a next ranked opponent.
