Daniel Cormier says Alex Pereira has maxed himself out at light heavyweight. This wasn't the case for Cormier when he was on top of the sport, the former UFC light ceavyweight champion going on to win the heavyweight title with a KO of Stipe Miocic in 2019.

Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) had to take the hardest of hard roads to get his chance at gold. Similar to fellow champs Belal Muhammad and Merab Dvalishvili, the long path consisting of a double digit unbeaten streak is what it took for Ankalaev to get his opportunity to challenge Pereira, and he got the job done by unanimous decision.