Get ready for a rematch! Top 10 light heavyweight contenders from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker, are set to face off again. This time, they’ll be headlining UFC Fight Night 234 on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
It’s been nearly three months since their first ill-fated encounter. That bout ended in a no-contest at UFC 294 on Oct. 21. The match was controversially stopped 3:13 into the first round due to an illegal knee strike by Ankalaev.
This rematch gives both fighters a chance to conclusively end this chapter of their careers. The stakes are high, and the anticipation is palpable.
As we approach the second showdown between Ankalaev and Walker, let’s delve into some numbers. Ankalaev boasts the second-longest winning streak in UFC light heavyweight division history, behind Jon Jones (13). From September 2018 to July 2022, the Dagestani fighter racked up nine consecutive victories.
He defeated notable names like Anthony Smith, Thiago Santos, and Volkan Oezdemir. Out of these nine victories, five were by knockout or technical knockout.
Ankalaev also holds the second-longest undefeated streak in the history of the UFC light heavyweight division. Despite his last two matches against Jan Blachowicz and Johnny Walker ending in a split draw and a no contest, respectively, he hasn’t lost a fight since March 2018. That’s when he succumbed to a submission loss against Paul Craig.
Ankalaev is the only light heavyweight in promotional history to record multiple knockout victories through kicks. He has three triumphs executed via head kicks against Marcin Prachnio, Dalcha Lungiambula, and Ion Cutelaba.
His finishing rate across his 20 professional mixed martial arts bouts is 45 percent.
On the other hand, Walker has an impressive finishing record. Out of his 21 career triumphs, 19 have culminated in stoppages. He holds 16 knockout victories and three submissions to his credit.
Walker has secured six of his seven UFC triumphs through first-round knockouts. This includes notable victories against seasoned opponents such as Khalil Rountree, Paul Craig, and Ryan Spann.
Walker’s fighting style is explosive, as evidenced by his 17 first-round finishes in his career. His finishing rate in his 29 pro MMA bouts is 65.2 percent.
So, who will emerge victorious in this highly anticipated rematch? Only time will tell.