The UFC returns to its house of Las Vegas with a pair of title fights this Saturday for UFC 320. Get your self prepared and within the know with one other version of MMA Information employees battle predictions.
The occasion might be obtainable completely on ESPN pay-per-view on Saturday, October 4. The primary card will start at its standard 10pm ET begin time, with preliminary card motion kicking off at 6pm ET.
The primary occasion will function a rematch for the UFC mild heavyweight championship, as Magomed Ankalaev makes his first protection, taking over the person he gained the belt from, Alex Pereira.
The pair first met at UFC 313 in March, with Ankalaev executing an ideal gameplan to nullify Pereira’s offense and declare the championship. Ankalaev has not misplaced since dropping his UFC debut in March 2018, going 12-0-1 (1 NC) in that span. Pereira, who can be a former UFC middleweight champion, gained the sunshine heavyweight title by defeating Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295. He retained the title 3 times in 2024, defeating Jamahal Hill at UFC 300, Prochazka at UFC 303, and Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 307.
The co-main occasion of the night may even see gold on the road, as Merab Dvalishvili defends the UFC bantamweight championship towards Cory Sandhagen.
Dvalishvili has not misplaced since dropping his first two Octagon bouts. After defeating Sean O’Malley for the title at Noche UFC 2: UFC 306 final 12 months, Dvalishvili has since retained the gold towards Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 and O’Malley at UFC 316. Sandhagen has gained 4 of his final 5, most not too long ago ending Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC Des Moines in Could.
The remainder of the UFC 320 essential card will see mild heavyweight motion that includes Prochazka and Rountree Jr., a featherweight battle the place Josh Emmett takes on Youssef Zalal, and a middleweight matchup between Abus Magomedov and Joe Pyfer.
UFC 320: MMA Information Workers Predictions
With UFC 320 simply a few quick days away, Ryan Jarrell, Pranav Pandey, and myself (Thomas Albano) have offered our picks for the fights that make up the primary card.
Beneath, you possibly can try the present leaderboard by way of 9 playing cards in 2025.
Pranav Pandey (23-19)Thomas Albano (23-19)
Ryan Jarrell (22-20)
And now, let’s check out everybody’s picks for UFC 320!
Middleweight: Abus Magomedov vs. Joe Pyfer
Pranav Pandey: Pyfer has put collectively a strong run within the UFC, and apart from that slip-up towards Jack Hermansson, I nonetheless see him as an actual menace within the middleweight division. In the meantime, I’m not completely satisfied about Abus Magomedov’s consistency, although there’s no denying he has the ability to finish a battle if he finds his shot. Nonetheless, I imagine “Bodybagz” would be the sharper, extra harmful fighter on the evening, and I’m backing him to get the job carried out. (Prediction: Pyfer)
Thomas Albano: I don’t wish to completely consult with this as grappler vs. striker, as Abus Magomedov has a good all-around recreation. Having mentioned that, with Pyfer being higher together with his hanging – and maybe a want to placed on a present after a lackluster win over Kelvin Gastelum – anticipate him to push the tempo whereas Magomedov tries to carry him again. Magomedov goes to wish to combine issues up, and he’s going to must keep away from tiring himself out. If Magomedov tries to be too centered on getting a powerful end himself, a brutal consequence may await. The longer the battle goes, I really feel Pyfer may have extra of an edge, so I’ll lean to him scoring the win right here. (Prediction: Pyfer)
Ryan Jarrell: Joe Pyfer has the instruments to be an actual downside within the middleweight division and this matchup ought to be an fascinating check for the surging fighter. Abus is a effectively rounded fighter on a pleasant three battle win streak together with his most up-to-date win over the dynamic, Michel Periera. I anticipate Bodybagz to make use of his energy and grappling expertise to dictate the place the battle takes place all through the period of the competition. Give me Pyfer to win a call in the primary card curtain jerker. (Prediction: Pyfer)
Consensus: 3-0 Pyfer
Featherweight: Josh Emmett vs. Youssef Zalal
Pranav Pandey: Age may very well be an element right here, however with age comes expertise, and Josh Emmett has loads of that to lean on. He’s been round lengthy sufficient to know easy methods to commerce with precision on the toes, and he nonetheless carries fight-ending energy in his arms. Certain, his latest type hasn’t been the very best, however these losses got here towards a number of the elite within the division.
On the opposite aspect, Zalal brings youth, freshness, and a harmful ending intuition, particularly when he’s capable of drag opponents into his world on the canvas. The true query is whether or not Emmett can shrug off these grappling exchanges. If he can maintain “The Moroccan Satan” from controlling the battle on the bottom, I feel the veteran has a particularly reasonable shot at reminding everybody why he’s nonetheless a severe menace. (Prediction: Emmett)
Thomas Albano: Merely put, it is a battle of skilled expertise versus rising, proficient youth title. Emmett’s received energy and wrestling, and he shouldn’t be written off. That mentioned, you possibly can see age displaying its presence by how he regarded just a little slower in his loss towards Lerone Murphy. I may see Zalal using his velocity to land fast strikes and management the motion across the Octagon – and doubtlessly go tit-for-tat with Emmett on the bottom. I’m not going to disclaim Emmett’s talents and energy, however I’ll say I feel it is a battle the place the youth wins out. (Prediction: Zalal)
Ryan Jarrell: Youssef Zalal regarded completely unimaginable within the first two rounds of the Calvin Kattar battle. His timing and motion regarded pretty much as good as I’ve seen at featherweight and if that model of the Moroccan satan exhibits up in Las Vegas then it will likely be a protracted evening for the veteran fighter. Josh Emmett, nonetheless, has battle altering energy and might change the trajectory of a battle with one shot. This battle will come down to only that. I imagine the motion of Zalal might be too superior and he’ll keep away from the ability pictures of Emmett en path to a neatly fought unanimous resolution victory. (Prediction: Zalal)
Consensus: 2-1 Zalal
Mild Heavyweight: Jiri Prochazka vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.
Pranav Pandey: This one screams top-tier violence, the sort of chaos that would swing both method. Each males are among the many most harmful strikers at 205 kilos, but their types couldn’t be extra totally different, and that distinction is what makes this matchup so intriguing. Rountree Jr. is as basically sound as they arrive, throwing clear, exact pictures with bone-crushing energy. “The Struggle Horse” placed on a robust displaying towards Pereira despite the fact that he fell quick, and his battle with Jamahal Hill proved simply how a lot he’s leveled up.
However issues are by no means easy towards Prochazka. He’s unorthodox, unpredictable, and almost not possible to learn. You by no means know what angle his strikes will come from or how he’ll set traps within the chaos. For me, this looks like a pure 50-50 battle, but when I’ve to decide on, I’m placing my cash on “BJP” to discover a method within the insanity. (Prediction: Prochazka)
Thomas Albano: After UFC Baku, individuals have been calling for this match, and now it will likely be delivered. In the event you like energy, for those who like strikes, and for those who particularly like kicks, that is going to be the matchup for you. Each males are wonderful strikers, albeit one (Prochazka) is extra wild, whereas the opposite (Rountree) is extra strategical. Each males are robust to complete, however even with a possible grappling edge in Rountree, I really feel Prochazka might be seeking to repeatedly stress and use his energy to place Rountree in bother. And given their UFC resumes side-by-side as effectively, I’ll lean towards the previous champion on this one. (Prediction: Prochazka)
Ryan Jarrell: This battle is so fascinating as a result of Rountree has the ability to show off anybody’s lights together with Prochazka. We noticed Khalil battle extremely disciplined in his spectacular win over the previous champion, Jamahal Hill. I can actually see a really related battle occurring right here, nonetheless, Jiri is extra dynamic and unpredictable contained in the octagon. Due to that I anticipate some loopy moments the place each males could also be in bother and it may come all the way down to who fights the smarter battle. I don’t really feel nice about this decide however I’ll lean Rountree to remain disciplined and battle considerably secure en path to a call victory. (Prediction: Rountree)
Consensus: 3-0 Prochazka
Bantamweight Championship: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Cory Sandhagen
Pranav Pandey: Few fighters earn their nicknames fairly like “The Machine.” Dvalishvili is a generational expertise, and I personally love watching his relentless fashion; elite opponents continually wrestle to determine him out. He imposes his will, grinding down challengers together with his infinite cardio and ceaseless stress.
However then there’s Sandhagen, a grasp of hanging, with fluid footwork, sharp angles, and a body constructed to leverage each punch. In a world with out Dvalishvili, Sandhagen’s weaponry may give nearly anybody bother. However the fact is, holding tempo with Merab’s relentless stress and nonstop output is a unique problem altogether. “The Machine” shines when opponents attempt to chase him
“The Machine” might want to keep sharp towards Sandhagen’s energy pictures; in any other case, he may cruise to a different dominant management win, or possibly even a stoppage. (Prediction: Dvalishvili)
Thomas Albano: For Dvalishvili, it is a battle the place if he wins, he might have locked up Fighter of the Yr awards throughout MMA media when 2025 involves an finish. Sandhagen is a troublesome competitor with nice boxing, and he might want to use it to safe a victory right here. The issue is, with all due respect to him, I don’t see him as an excessive amount of of a menace. Certain, he’s received good takedown protection, however Dvalishvili is one other stage of animal on the subject of takedowns and grappling. And at the same time as champion, I really feel Dvalishvili has continued to point out enhancements, from a comeback victory to retain towards Umar Nurmagomedov, to having the ability to end Sean O’Malley of their rematch. Give me Dvalishvili in a one-sided resolution to maintain the gold and lock himself in as 2025’s Fighter of the Yr. (Prediction: Dvalishvili)
Ryan Jarrell: Till I truly see the Champion lose his belt, I simply can not decide towards him. Merab has confirmed to be such a troublesome out for anybody on this planet at 135 kilos. Cory Sandhagen has the skillset to be a champion and he positively poses some fascinating challenges to the champ. However on the finish of day, Merab all the time finds a approach to win and that’s precisely what I anticipate to see within the co-main occasion. Merab will dictate the place the battle takes place and cruise to a unanimous resolution victory. (Prediction: Dvalishvili)
Consensus: 3-0 Dvalishvili
Mild Heavyweight Championship: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira 2
Pranav Pandey: After a primary battle that fell wanting expectations, this rematch feels just like the redemption each followers and fighters have been craving. Now that Ankalaev and Pereira have studied one another’s each transfer, we are able to anticipate a sharper, smarter, and extra intense battle. At UFC 313, Ankalaev had the higher hand towards “Poatan,” taking advantage of his sharp hanging and masterful counter-punching. Each grappling try he tried was neatly defended by Pereira, who struggled to get his offense going. Now, the massive query is what new tips Ankalaev will carry. Together with his arsenal of instruments—from slicing angles with surgical precision to exploiting each weak point—he’s able to continually maintain Pereira on edge.
On the flip aspect, I’m genuinely curious to see how Pereira has advanced for this rematch. Of their first battle, he appeared hesitant to drag the set off, however everyone knows “Poatan” carries a number of the most devastating kicks in MMA. I feel these kicks might be a vital weapon to decelerate Ankalaev’s ahead stress and shake up the battle’s rhythm.
Actually, predicting this one has me torn. Each fighters carry unimaginable talent, and it may go both method. Nonetheless, I’m leaning towards Pereira to lastly get the job carried out that slipped by way of his fingers final time. “Poatan’s” time to shine, however this isn’t going to be a straightforward evening for him. (Prediction: Pereira)
Thomas Albano: Finally, the query right here might be if Pereira goes to have the ability to make the changes from the primary battle. His offense was utterly neutralized by Ankalaev in March. He has claimed that he wasn’t at one hundred pc for the battle (a good argument maybe given his exercise stage in 2024), however the UFC 313 bout confirmed that Ankalaev has what it takes to cease Pereira’s inventive and highly effective hanging over the course of 25 minutes. And whereas I don’t wish to depend Chama out, if Ankalaev was in a position to try this as soon as, what’s to say he gained’t have the ability to do it once more? (Prediction: Ankalaev)
Ryan Jarrell: My preliminary thought for this essential occasion title battle was to choose Ankalaev to do the very same factor we noticed of their first tilt. However after listening to Poatan say he was injured and never near 100%, I’m hesitant to take action. If the previous champ is being truthful about his earlier harm, then this may very well be a vastly totally different battle then the one we noticed at UFC 313. On the finish of the day, Alex is 5 years older than the brand new champ in a sport the place the younger eat the previous. I wouldn’t be shocked if Poatan lands one in every of his devastating strikes and wins by TKO, however I imagine the secure play is to choose Ankalaev by resolution. (Prediction: Ankalaev)
Consensus: 2-1 Ankalaev
That’ll do it for our UFC 320 employees picks! What do you suppose? Do your predictions look related? Tell us within the feedback part!
Additionally, you possibly can try the complete UFC 320 card beneath.
Important Card:
Mild Heavyweight Championship: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira
Bantamweight Championship: Merab Dvalishvili vs. Cory Sandhagen
Mild Heavyweight: Jiri Prochazka vs. Khalil Rountree Jr.
Featherweight: Josh Emmett vs. Youssef Zalal
Middleweight: Abus Magomedov vs. Joe Pyfer
Preliminary Card:
Middleweight: Ateba Gautier vs. Treston Vines
Middleweight: Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Andre Muniz
Bantamweight: Chris Gutierrez vs. Farid Basharat
Featherweight: Daniel Santos vs. Joosang Yoo
Early Preliminary Card:
Girls’s Bantamweight: Macy Chiasson vs. Yana Santos
Bantamweight: Patchy Combine vs. Jakub Wiklacz
Welterweight: Punahele Soriano vs. Nikolay Veretennikov
Welterweight: Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Austin Vanderford
