3 biggest storylines ahead of UFC 320

UFC 320 is upon us.

In Saturday's main event, Magomed Ankalaev defends the light heavyweight title in an immediate rematch with former two-division champion Alex Pereira. In the co-headliner, bantamweight champ Merab Dvalishvili puts his belt on the line against Cory Sandhagen.

Here are three key storylines ahead of the UFC's return to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Is Pereira's career on the line vs. Ankalaev?

Sure, it might be a tad dramatic to suggest Pereira's career would be over if he loses to Ankalaev for a second straight time this weekend. But no one ever wants to be 0-2 against the current champion in their division, and that's the predicament Pereira would find himself in if he comes up short at UFC 320.

This time last year, the Brazilian was about to make his third successful title defense of 2024, a TKO win over Khalil Rountree Jr. to cement one of the best campaigns we've seen in MMA. Now, he's one loss away from sitting outside the title picture for the first time since he joined the UFC.

There's always a chance Pereira could turn things around if he loses to Ankalaev again, but at 38 years old, it's not particularly likely. It would be tough to work his way back to a title shot as long as Ankalaev is champion. And looking beyond the light heavyweight division, there wouldn't be much appetite for superfights against Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall anymore - matchups that, not even a year ago, would've been major box-office attractions.

While a second defeat to Ankalaev wouldn't necessarily be a death sentence for Pereira's career, it would be a sign that his time as one of the UFC's biggest stars is over for good.

Dvalishvili seeking Fighter of the Year award

Dvalishvili is on a roll.

The bantamweight champ is looking to become just the eighth fighter in UFC history to record three successful title defenses in a calendar year. He upset Umar Nurmagomedov in January, finished Sean O'Malley in their rematch in June, and is now hoping to get past another top contender in Sandhagen.

As we've progressed through 2025, it's become clear that this might be the year of "The Machine." Dvalishvili has been very impressive, outmatching his opponents and smashing records. If he beats Sandhagen on Saturday, the Fighter of the Year award will be his to lose.

The winner of the UFC 322 main event between Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev will also have a solid argument, but it's tough to go against three straight title defenses in one of the promotion's deepest divisions.

Who's getting the next light heavyweight title shot after Pereira?

The light heavyweight division will get some clarity at UFC 320.

The main event between Ankalaev and Pereira isn't the only big 205-pound matchup on the card. Additionally, former champion Jiri Prochazka will square off with Rountree in a fight that could determine the No. 1 contender.

However, a title shot for the winner of Prochazka-Rountree is far from a sure thing. Carlos Ulberg is also on the hunt for a crack at the belt, and he set a high bar last weekend in Perth, Australia, when he knocked out Dominick Reyes in violent fashion. Prochazka and Rountree will need to deliver if they want to jump ahead of Ulberg in the title race.

It'll also depend on who leaves UFC 320 with the belt. If Ankalaev remains champion, the promotion will have several options, as the Dagestani has never fought Prochazka, Rountree, or Ulberg. Prochazka might be the biggest matchup of those three. Pereira, on the other hand, has beaten Prochazka twice and Rountree once, making Ulberg the front-runner if "Poatan" regains the title.