Magomed Ankalaev defeated Johnny Walker at UFC Fight Night 234 this weekend via KO. And with the bout marking the tenth victory in his UFC record, the Russian hopes to get the title shot next.
The fight between the two lasted only the second round, with Ankalaev making his KO win. The fight started with Walker trying to push his dominance by being aggressive in throwing kicks. Despite this, Ankalaev remained calm and patient to find the right opportunities to release his leg kicks and left hook. The first round saw Ankalaev make a kick to the groin of his opponent, but it luckily continued and didn’t end like their first fight in October 2023. When Walker recovered, the two traded leg kicks, with the Brazilian trying his capoeira skills before the bell rang.
In Round 2, the two traded leg kicks, with little action from both sides. However, Ankalaev sent a giant hook that dropped Walker, and the Russian immediately followed it with an uppercut to secure his win.
After the match, Ankalaev knows that there is no better offer to take than the title shot against the division champ Alex Pereira.
“The most important thing is that I’m ready to fight for the title,” Ankalaev said via an interpreter in his post-fight interview. “I have 10 victories in a row. It’s been a long time, I’m worth it, give me that fight for the title now.”
Ankalaev’s win just cleared the water in the division, with the next match of “Poatan” remaining a mystery to many. Despite many the class weight possessing many talented fighters and Jamahal Hill promising to challenge the champ in his return, the UFC still hasn’t given a name for his next opponent. Yet, with Ankalaev further strengthening his record, there is a huge chance he might be next.
Luckily for Ankalaev, Pereira’s coach, Glover Teixeira, has an interest in the challenge. After his fight, the former fighter praised the Russian’s performance and said they will see him “soon.”
Great knockout. We will see u soon. #UFCFightNight
— glover teixeira (@gloverteixeira) January 14, 2024
