Magomed Ankalev defeated Johnny Walker in a second-round knockout at UFC Vegas 84, marking his 11th consecutive undefeated fight and prompting him to call for a title fight.
Magomed Ankalaev had some scores to settle with Johnny Walker. He did just that with a brutal second-round knockout at UFC Vegas 84 on Saturday. The previous bout between the two ended in a no contest last October. It was a letdown, to say the least.
Ankalaev had to wait three months for a rematch. Talk about anticipation. But boy, did he make it count. He had Walker on the ropes in the second round. Then, he landed a right hook that was nothing short of devastating.
Walker hit the canvas hard. Ankalaev followed up with an uppercut that was, well, brutal. It smashed Walker’s nose, forcing referee Marc Goddard to stop the fight.
The end came at 2:42 of the second round.
“I’ve been ready for this a long time,” Ankalaev said after his win. He wanted the rematch immediately.
“Everyone who fights me tries to figure me out in the first round. But it’s not something they can do,” Ankalaev added. He sees himself as the hunter, and his opponents? They’re the hunted.
Walker started the fight aggressively. He was throwing a variety of shots, looking for a quick finish. But after a few wild exchanges, he started to cool down. Ankalaev, on the other hand, stayed calm and composed.
Ankalaev tried to use his kicking game. It backfired a bit when he landed a low blow, pausing the action.
When the fight resumed, Ankalaev was on the offensive again. He was mostly following Walker around the cage, picking his shots. Walker seemed a bit lost, circling away without throwing much back at Ankalaev.
Ankalaev didn’t have that problem. He was measuring every punch until he found the opening for a beautiful right hook. Walker crashed to the canvas.
Once Walker was down, Ankalaev went in for the kill with a massive uppercut. Walker’s nose exploded from the punch. He covered up to prevent further damage, and Goddard stepped in to save him.
This was the statement Ankalaev needed to make after the first fight. He’s now undefeated in 11 straight fights. He’s got his eyes on the prize now.
“I’m ready to fight for the title,” Ankalaev said. “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!”
Former champion Jamahal Hill is expected to face reigning UFC light heavyweight king Alex Pereira next. But Ankalaev may have just put himself in the conversation with this latest win.