Magomed Ankalaev repeated according to the rules

For the second time in his career, Magomed Ankalaev came close to the title of UFC champion, the main mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion, in the light heavyweight (up to 93 kg), knocking out Brazilian Johnny Walker in the second round.

This fight in Las Vegas, the first significant one in the UFC this year, had an interesting backstory. The fact is that quite recently, in October, Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker already met in the octagon. And for Ankalaev, the outcome of that confrontation was very offensive.

By that time, he was already an undisputed UFC star. Making his debut in 2018 in the leading promotion, the Russian unexpectedly lost in the last seconds to Paul Craig. But then Ankalaev went on a nine-game winning streak, including against elite opponents like Volkan Oezdemir, Thiago Santos, and Anthony Smith. And the impressiveness with which most of them were obtained forced the UFC to raise the Russian very high in the rankings and give him a chance to fight for the championship title.

The light heavyweight division became vacant when Czech Jiri Prochazka voluntarily parted ways with him in November 2022 after suffering a serious shoulder injury. For the title, Ankalaev had to fight against the Pole Jan Blachowicz, who previously owned it. The first two rounds of the fight, which took place in December 2022, were boring, but as a result, Blachowicz created a certain margin of safety.

However, then Ankalaev seized the initiative and had a good finish. In the fifth and final round, he actually dominated the octagon thanks to his remarkable wrestling skills.

In terms of basic statistical indicators, Magomed Ankalaev surpassed Jan Blachowicz. However, this difference was not decisive. One referee gave the win to Blachowicz – 48:47, the second – to Ankalaev – 48:46, and the card of the third was a draw – 47:47. It was also the result of the fight, after which UFC head Dana White did not hide his dissatisfaction with the passivity of his opponents and decided to arrange a fight for other fighters for the still ownerless title. In it, in January, American Jamal Hill confidently dealt with 43-year-old Brazilian veteran Glover Teixeira. Hill, however, soon vacated the title after tearing his Achilles tendon and undergoing long-term treatment.

So, last year’s fight between Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker, a strong and experienced fighter, was clearly positioned as a contender’s fight. But something unexpected happened. The fight lasted less than four minutes. The Russian scored a takedown. And at the net he didn’t have the patience to wait for Johnny Walker to rise to both feet to deliver his intended knee to the head. Ankalaev carried it out while Walker was leaning on the floor with his own knee. And this is already a prohibited blow.

Johnny Walker made it clear that he did not care about the shock he had experienced, that he was ready to continue. But the referee, having learned the doctors’ recommendations, stopped the fight. And the UFC, recognizing it as invalid, ordered a “replay.”

And it has already ended happily for Magomed Ankalaev. Even in the first round, he showed that Johnny Walker had no chance of seizing the initiative, firmly seizing control of the center of the octagon, and in the second, having guessed his opponent’s attack, he famously fired a right hook to the head and, strictly following the principles of a great MMA pro, immediately rushed to finish off the opponent who had fallen on the fence, although in fact finishing was no longer required: it was clearly visible that Walker would not survive such a shock in any case.

And five minutes later, Magomed Ankalaev was already demanding to give him a championship fight. And it is possible that it will actually grow together with him. The title has already been taken by Brazilian Alex Pereira. The Brazilian who had previously conquered the middle weight (up to 84 kg) was brought about by the defeat that Pereira inflicted on Jiri Prochazka in November. But the UFC has not yet named his next opponent. And Magomed Ankalaev, taking into account the combination of factors – achievements and brightness of style, looks too much like the most worthy hunter for him.

Alexey Dospehov