While all eyes are on the main event between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira at UFC 320, a different conversation is buzzing in the combat sports world. Could Merab Dvalishvili, the co-main event headliner, actually be the best fighter in the world? On the latest episode of Ringside Report MMA, hosts Dave Simon and Fred Garcia dive deep into this question, breaking down why Dvalishvili might just be the “Pound-for-Pound” king. They also cover the rest of the stacked card with their trademark blend of technical analysis and brutal honesty. This episode is a must-watch for any fan who wants to go beyond the usual headlines and hear an unfiltered, expert take on the biggest fights.
The Main Event: Ankalaev vs. Pereira 2
The light heavyweight title rematch between champion Magomed Ankalaev and former champion Alex Pereira has all the makings of a statement fight. Simon didn’t mince words about his prediction: “I think Pereira’s time is kind of coming to an end. He’s 38 years old. How long is he going to be a dominant light heavyweight?”
Both hosts agreed that Ankalaev controlled their first encounter at UFC 313, with Simon recalling that “the bell saved Pereira” in the second round when Ankalaev nearly finished him. While acknowledging Pereira’s knockout power – “he can knock out Magomed Ankalaev and any man walking the face of the earth” – Simon sees this ending differently than their first meeting.
“I think Magomed puts a pace on him, gets him up, clinched against the cage, does some damage, lands some shots, and puts Pereira away,” Simon predicted, calling for a TKO in rounds four or five.
Garcia echoed the sentiment, noting that Ankalaev’s game plan will likely mirror the first fight: “He’s going to stay away from the trouble. He’s going to pressure to try to wrestle him, whether it’s on the cage, whether it’s to get him to the ground. But he’s not going to just kickbox with Pereira.”
The age factor looms large, with the 33-year-old Ankalaev entering his prime while Pereira, at 38, faces questions about longevity. Simon even suggested this could be Pereira’s swan song: “I think Pereira could retire after this fight. This could be the last Alex Pereira fight. He’s done everything. He doesn’t need to prove anything more.”
The Co-Main Event: Dvalishvili’s Dominance Continues
The bantamweight title fight between champion Merab Dvalishvili and Cory Sandhagen had both hosts in agreement – this is Dvalishvili’s fight to lose.
“I’m such a Merab fan now that anytime Merab’s on the card, I’m watching,” Garcia declared. “His last couple of performances have been so dominating.”
Dvalishvili’s résumé speaks for itself – a 13-fight UFC win streak including victories over Sean O’Malley (twice), Umar Nurmagomedov, Petr Yan, José Aldo, and Henry Cejudo. Simon went so far as to suggest, “Merab may be the best fighter in the world. He might be number one pound for pound.”
The matchup with Sandhagen presents familiar challenges for the fourth-ranked contender, who has repeatedly faltered in key moments. Simon pointed out Sandhagen’s pattern: “He had an interim bantamweight title fight against Petr Yan back in 2021 that he lost. He had a title eliminator fight for a title shot when he fought Aljamain Sterling back in 2020, which he lost.”
Garcia noted the lack of fresh contenders: “Merab has wins over O’Malley twice, defeated Umar. He also defeated Petr Yan, I’m pretty sure. So, like Cory Sandhagen, he’s number four ranked. He’s the guy who never fought Merab yet.”
Both hosts predicted a dominant decision victory for Dvalishvili, with Garcia suggesting something like “50-43. He’s going to win every round.”
Procházka’s Dangerous Return
The light heavyweight clash between Jiří Procházka and Khalil Rountree Jr. serves as more than just a featured bout – Procházka is the official backup for the main event. Simon was emphatic about Procházka’s credentials: “You look at Jiří Procházka, like who beats this guy? Alex Pereira. Anybody else? Nope.”
Indeed, Procházka’s only UFC loss came against Pereira, while he’s defeated Aleksandar Rakić, Dominick Reyes, Glover Teixeira, and Jamahal Hill. Both hosts expect him to add Rountree to that list, with the winner potentially next in line for a title shot against the main event winner.
Team Predictions and Betting Slips
The hosts assembled their official predictions for UFC 320:
Team Fred (Five-Fight Parlay):
- Magomed Ankalaev to defeat Alex Pereira
- Merab Dvalishvili to defeat Cory Sandhagen
- Jiří Procházka to defeat Khalil Rountree Jr.
- Youssef Zalal to defeat Josh Emmett
- Abusupiyan Magomedov to defeat Joe Pyfer
- Payout: 20 gets you 175.96
Team Dave (Three-Fight Parlay):
- Magomed Ankalaev to defeat Alex Pereira
- Merab Dvalishvili to defeat Cory Sandhagen
- Jiří Procházka to defeat Khalil Rountree Jr.
- Payout: 20 gets you 49.63
Garcia’s reasoning on his underdog pick was particularly interesting: “Magomedov is well-rounded. You know, he can strike. He can make some grappling. He’s got some length on Pyfer. So I think that’s a good value pick.”
On Emmett, Garcia was blunt: “38, 39 also, I think. He’s only had one fight in the last two years. I think he’s passed his prime. Zalal is a guy who moves well. Emmett is a little bit stiff.”
Simon kept his parlay focused on what he called “pretty close to guaranteed money” with the three favorites he’s most confident in.
Looking Ahead
The conversation naturally drifted to what’s next for these divisions. With Dvalishvili having cleaned out most of the bantamweight top 10, Simon floated an intriguing possibility: “Would you like to see him move up and fight Volkanovski? There’s not a huge difference between 135 and 145, and Merab versus Volkanovski would be a pretty big fight.”
For the light heavyweight division, the future seems clearer. If Ankalaev wins as expected, fresh matchups await, including Procházka, Carlos Ulberg, and potentially Jamahal Hill, if he can string together consecutive wins.
The Bottom Line
UFC 320 shapes up as a pivotal event that could mark both the end of an era and the continuation of another. Pereira faces what might be his toughest test yet against a younger, hungrier champion in Ankalaev. Meanwhile, Dvalishvili looks to cement his status as one of MMA’s most dominant champions against yet another challenger.
As Simon put it: “I think Merab right now is peaking as a mixed martial artist. And the peak is very high.”
The smart money appears to be on the champions retaining, but in MMA, the only certainty is uncertainty. UFC 320 delivers this Saturday from Las Vegas.
