Mixed martial arts fans have been getting antsy after going nearly a full month without a UFC event and thankfully the organization’s 2024 schedule begins this weekend with a pivotal main event rematch in the light-heavyweight division.
Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker are set to face each other for the second time in less than three months as they headline the first UFC Fight Night of the year Saturday at the UFC Apex in Nevada. Fans can watch the event on SN360 and SN+ with preliminary card coverage beginning at 5 p.m. ET and the main card starting at 7 p.m. ET.
The pair of contenders fought to a no-contest at UFC 294 in October when an illegal knee from Ankalaev resulted in the cage-side physician calling a stop to the bout midway through the opening round. The stoppage was marred in controversy, however, since it appeared there was a miscommunication possibly due to a language barrier that resulted in the doctor declaring Walker unfit to continue.
Neither fighter is a stranger to the occasional odd conclusion to a fight, so perhaps the best-case scenario from a “let’s keep the muddled top of the division moving forward” perspective is an indisputable outcome. A clean stoppage or non-controversial decision from either fighter can rectify what happened at UFC 294.
“I didn’t want that fight to stop,” Walker told Sportsnet’s Aaron Bronsteter this week ahead of his third career Fight Night main event. “I wanted to knock him out. I wanted to get the bonus. I’m ‘The Bonus Hunter.’ You train so hard for that moment and they take it from your hands. … I just want to make sure that this time I’m going to show him what is a proper fight. No illegal knees, nothing illegal. Hopefully I don’t do nothing illegal as well.”
Walker is unbeaten over his last four and had won three in a row prior to that no-contest after rebounding from a difficult 1-4 stretch during which he suffered a knockout loss to Jamahal Hill who would later win then vacate the 205-pound championship.
The LHW belt that currently sits around Alex Pereira’s waist has changed ownership multiple times in recent years, yet it has eluded Ankalaev despite the Russian not losing a fight since the literal last second of his UFC debut six years ago.
Ankalaev is unbeaten in 11 consecutive fights although snake bitten in his past two, coming off back-to-back unsatisfying results. He fought Jan Blachowicz to a split draw in their vacant title bout at UFC 282 before the no-contest against Walker in October.
There wasn’t too much to glean from the first fight considering it only lasted a tad over three minutes. Walker had some early success with inside leg kicks as Ankalaev has a wide, southpaw stance and has been susceptible to those strikes in the past such as during his scrap with Blachowicz.
Walker ate a straight left to the gut and played possum before attempting a flying knee. Ankalaev worked from a dominant position along the cage but that’s also where the illegal knee occurred whilst Walker was a downed opponent.
There won’t be a large crowd in attendance at the UFC Apex. Ankalaev has a stoic nature; Walker, the underdog, is more of a showman who can feed off the energy of a crowd. Could a more subdued environment potentially benefit the betting favourite?
Another thing to consider for this bout is these are not small athletes, so will the fact they’re competing inside the smaller 25-foot Octagon at the UFC Apex increase the likelihood we see a finish?
Ankalaev and Walker have five UFC opponents in common: Anthony Smith, Paul Craig, Ion Cutelaba, Thiago Santos and Nikita Krylov. Ankalaev beat all except Craig; Walker beat Cutelaba, Craig and Smith, but lost decisions to Santos and Krylov.
With Jamahal Hill still recovering from his ruptured Achilles and Pereira wanting to be an active champion, could a statement win from Ankalaev or Walker potentially propel either fighter into a mid-year bout with Poatan?
UNDERCARD OVERVIEW
Can Kape avenge loss to extend current streak?
The night’s co-main event is also a rematch with potential title implications. Matheus Nicolau won a split decision as a slight underdog when he fought fellow flyweight Manel Kape in March of 2021. Nicolau won three more fights after beating Kape but had his six-fight streak snapped with a knockout loss to Brandon Royval in April. Kape has gone on a four-fight winning streak since losing to Nicolau.
Kape is the more active and refined striker, while Nicolau was able to secure two takedowns in the opening round of their first bout before Kape defend six consecutive over the final two rounds. All three of Nicolau’s losses in MMA have been by KO/TKO via strikes and Kape has two first-round stoppages on his current streak. Nicolau is the No. 5-ranked contender in the men’s 125-pound division and Kape sits at No. 6.
This should be a fan-friendly action fight and with a win expect Kape to challenge current 125-pound champion Alexandre Pantoja, the only other fighter to defeat Kape under the UFC banner.
Will veterans Miller, Arlovski keep rising in record books?
Longtime lightweight Jim Miller and former heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski rank first and second, respectively, for most total fights and most wins in UFC history and are both competing Saturday. Miller is seeking his 26th UFC win in what will be his 43rd Octagon appearance, while Arlovski will compete for the 41st time in his UFC career and if he can get the victory he’ll move into sole possession of second place for most UFC wins; he’s currently tied for second place with Donald Cerrone at 23 wins apiece.
Below is a look at the complete fight card.
MAIN CARD (7 p.m. ET SN360, SN+)
— Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker
— Matheus Nicolau vs. Manel Kape
— Jim Miller vs. Gabriel Benítez
— Ricky Simon vs. Mario Bautista
— Phil Hawes vs. Brunno Ferreira
PRELIMINARY CARD
— Andrei Arlovski vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta
— Matthew Semelsberger vs. Preston Parsons
— Marcus McGhee vs. Gaston Bolanos
— Farid Basharat vs. Taylor Lapilus
— Westin Wilson vs. Jean Silva
— Tom Nolan vs. Nikolas Motta
— Joshua Van vs. Felipe Bunes
from Sportsnet.ca https://ift.tt/0eoE6nt
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