UFC 320 Aftermath: Champion Alex Pereira Confirms Broken Foot; Opponent Magomed Ankalaev Reportedly Fought with Fractured Rib

Las Vegas, NV – October 11, 2025 – UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira has confirmed a fractured foot sustained during his successful title defense against Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320 on October 6. The revelation comes amidst reports that his opponent, Ankalaev, entered the highly anticipated main event bout with a pre-existing fractured rib, adding a layer of complexity to the rapid conclusion of their contest.

Pereira, known by his moniker "Poatan," secured a decisive knockout victory over Ankalaev in a mere 80 seconds at the T-Mobile Arena, defending his 205-pound championship. Despite the emphatic nature of his win, the Brazilian champion was visibly compromised immediately after the fight, limping out of the Octagon and expressing concerns about a potential foot injury. His suspicions were later confirmed through a series of medical evaluations.

Following initial X-rays conducted in Las Vegas, Pereira underwent an MRI upon his return to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The comprehensive imaging confirmed a fracture in his foot. Speaking to MMA Fighting during a Q&A session in Rio de Janeiro ahead of a UFC Fight Night event, Pereira addressed the diagnosis, stating, "I did an X-Ray in Las Vegas and an MRI here, and we have a fracture on my foot, but I still don’t know what will happen, or how long it will take for me to recover." The specific foot (left or right) and the precise bone fractured were not immediately disclosed.

The injury, according to Pereira, occurred during the bout itself, a testament to the high-impact nature of his striking-heavy fighting style. At the UFC 320 post-fight press conference, while wearing a protective boot, Pereira elaborated on the sequence that led to the injury. Through a Portuguese interpreter, he told reporters, "It’s my foot. I’m pretty sure it’s broken. The inside calf kicks were working. I threw a few of those, and then he switched stances, and I think I was in the wrong range. And I threw another kick to his lead leg, and it landed on the tip of my foot. I think it’s broken." This account highlights the precision and power involved in his striking, which, in this instance, inadvertently resulted in self-inflicted damage due to the shift in his opponent’s defensive posture.

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A fractured foot typically necessitates a recovery period ranging from four to six weeks for initial healing, with more severe cases potentially extending to 12 weeks, as per medical guidelines from the Cleveland Clinic. However, for an elite mixed martial artist like Pereira, the timeline for a full, uninhibited return to high-level training and competition is significantly longer. Experts suggest it can take up to six months for the bone to regain sufficient strength to withstand the rigorous weight-bearing demands and impact associated with professional fighting. Should Pereira face the longer end of this recovery spectrum, he could potentially be sidelined until April of the following year.

Despite the injury setback, the 36-year-old champion remains ambitious about his future. Pereira has openly advocated for a potential "White House fight" against former two-division champion Jon Jones, a concept that has garnered attention within the combat sports community. If his recovery indeed extends until April, Pereira would have an estimated eight to nine weeks to prepare for such a high-profile encounter, assuming a hypothetical White House event were to materialize shortly thereafter. "I think it’s good to focus on this White House [date], it’s something that interests me," Pereira affirmed. "I think I’ll focus on this." The prospect of a champion vs. champion super-fight against Jon Jones, currently the UFC Heavyweight Champion, represents a monumental challenge and a significant draw, underscoring Pereira’s long-term career aspirations despite his immediate physical challenge.

Alex Pereira’s journey to the pinnacle of the UFC Light Heavyweight division has been remarkably swift. A former two-division GLORY Kickboxing champion, Pereira transitioned to MMA relatively late in his career. He captured the UFC Middleweight Championship in November 2022 by defeating Israel Adesanya, before moving up to light heavyweight. He claimed the vacant light heavyweight title in November 2023 with a second-round knockout of Jiří Procházka at UFC 295, bringing his professional MMA record to 11 wins and 2 losses. His recent victory over Ankalaev marked his first successful defense of the 205-pound title.

Adding another dimension to the UFC 320 main event, reports have surfaced indicating that Magomed Ankalaev may have entered the Octagon with a significant injury of his own. Ali Abdelaziz, Ankalaev’s manager, alluded to pre-fight complications without providing specifics in an Instagram post shortly after the event. "There are a lot of things happened with Ankalaev in his camp," Abdelaziz wrote. "But, it’s for him to talk about. Not me. And if I need to talk about it, I will talk about it. If it was up to me, he should never have fought due to some things. But he’s a grown man, he makes his own decisions, and he lives by his actions."

The cryptic message from Abdelaziz gained clarity on Monday, October 9, when reports emerged from combat sports journalist Léo Guimaraes and other outlets, alleging Ankalaev fought Pereira with a broken rib. Guimaraes posted a video on social media depicting Ankalaev undergoing rib treatment approximately 20 days prior to the October 6 fight. Anonymous sources, cited by MMA Fighting, further corroborated these claims, indicating that the Dagestani fighter was severely hampered during his training camp and could barely spar in the lead-up to UFC 320 due to the injury.

A fractured rib can profoundly impact a fighter’s preparation and performance. The ribs play a crucial role in protecting vital organs and facilitating respiration. Such an injury can cause excruciating pain with movement, deep breaths, or any impact, severely limiting a fighter’s ability to absorb body shots, generate power through core rotation, or even maintain proper defensive posture. The inability to spar effectively for weeks before a championship fight would undoubtedly represent a significant impediment to optimal readiness.

Magomed Ankalaev (18-2-1 professional MMA record), a highly touted contender from Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russia, had earned his shot at the light heavyweight title through a dominant run in the division. His previous encounter with Alex Pereira at UFC 301 saw him lose via a first-round knockout. Coming into UFC 320, Ankalaev was seeking redemption and his first UFC championship. Despite the swift defeat, Ankalaev addressed his loss on Monday through social media but notably did not disclose any pre-existing injury, leaving the full extent of his physical state to external reports and speculation.

The revelations surrounding both fighters’ injuries cast a different light on the UFC 320 main event. Pereira”s ability to secure a rapid knockout despite sustaining a severe injury during the fight underscores his resilience and power. Conversely, Ankalaev’s decision to proceed with the bout while reportedly battling a fractured rib speaks to his courage and determination, even if it potentially compromised his performance against one of the most dangerous strikers in the sport.

The light heavyweight division now faces an uncertain period as its champion, Alex Pereira, embarks on a recovery journey. While the exact duration of his absence remains to be seen, the implications for potential interim titles or the timing of his next defense will be closely monitored by the UFC and its fanbase. For Magomed Ankalaev, the focus will likely shift to full recovery from his reported rib injury before contemplating his next step in the competitive 205-pound landscape. The aftermath of UFC 320 serves as a stark reminder of the physical toll exacted by elite-level mixed martial arts, even in the briefest of encounters.