The recent main event of UFC Vegas 50, we saw an exciting matchup in the light heavyweight division. Main light heavyweights Magomed Ankalaev and Thiago Santos clashed head-to-head in an attempt to inch nearer to the title.
Ankalaev stepped into the fight as the sixth-ranked light heavyweight and had been on a seven-fight win streak against the likes of Volkan Oezdemir, Nikita Krylov, and Ion Cutelaba.
Thiago Santos, meanwhile, returned to the win column in his last time out as he beat Johnny Walker by decision to humble his three-fight streak.
Ultimately, Ankalaev emerged in what many thought was a rather stale decision as both fighters were tentative to throw. On the other hand, even though Ankalaev was declared the victor, it was Santos who ensured the climatic moment of the match as he dropped Anklaev but he couldn’t keep on it. Following UFC Vegas 50, here is what could be next for Ankalaev.
The Fight
The headliner commences and both men attempt to find their range. Santos lands first contact with a low kick followed by another. Ankalaev misses his opportunity with a front kick attempt. Santos swings a punch but misses while Ankalaev counters with a solid right hand. Santos stood his ground and circled to his left. He leaps back in with a brutal combo however, Ankalaev countered it with a massive right hook. This most certainly had the attention of Santos who was now well on his guard but Ankalaev managed to land another right. Santos retaliated with a jumping front kick but missed. He was able to connect a shot with a follow up low kick. Ankalaev replied and threw a kick to the body.
By the fourth round both men had been fired up. Ankalaev landed a decent straight left up the centre. Santos seemed in place as he was backed into a corner, fighting with his back against the fence.
He managed to successfully land a low kick followed by a right hook.
Ankalaev returns fire with a flawless hard-hitting combination. In the last two minutes he fires a punishing combination. Santos missed an opportunity with a vigorous right hand attempt. Ankalaev fired in and pushed Santos up against the cage.
He searched rapidly for a takedown and managed to get the opportunity. Magomed placed focus on a defensive stance from the blows. Santos managed a few decent hits before the end of the fourth round.
In the fifth and final round of the UFC Vegas 50 main event Ankalaev pushed forward with intense bombardment against Santos. Santos managed to keep his attacker at bay with a low kick. He manages another kick and swings a haymaker of a left hand but was unable to land a shot. Ankalaev shot in and pressed Santos up against the cage before the round ended.
Anthony Smith challenges Magomed Ankalaev
Magomed Ankalaev had said that he has no interest in challenging Anthony Smith following his UFC Vegas 50 win. Although this Thai news site claims otherwise.
Even though he did win against Thiago Santos at the UFC Vegas 50, Ankalaev appears to have hit a grey area in his career as quite a few spectators were not very impressed with his performance.
On the other hand, Ankalaev is confident that a title shot is on the cards for him.
“To be honest, I’m not glad with my performance totally, because I expected him to make an entertaining fight, to strike more, but it is what it is,” he said following the win.
“In my opinion, I deserve the title shot next because I am on an eight-fight winning streak and in some of the fights I finished the guys, and I feel I’m ready,” he said.
Before the UFC Vegas 50 highlight, Anthony Smith was weighed in as a promising challenger for However, due to Smith’s disinterest at the time, Anklaev appeared eager not to engage him for a shot at the belt.
“As you know, Anthony Smith was offered to fight me before and he wasn’t interested,” he told ESPN.
“Now I’m looking forward to getting the title shot next. I believe I deserve it.”
The Response
Smith wasted no time to respond to Ankalaev and stated that the only reason he turned down the fight was due to a recent knee injury.
“I was fresh out of knee surgery and staph infection, so unfortunately I wasn’t able to take it then. I’m healthy now. I’ve been begging for a fight. I think me and the UFC have been waiting for this matchup to happen to see how it unfolds. I guess I do apologize for getting a staph infection.”
Many believe that Smith is not mincing his words as he has never left the impression of being intimidated by any challenger.
“May or June, I’m ready. I’m begging for a fight. I’ve just been waiting to see what happens here,” Smith told ESPN.