A light heavyweight bout between top-10 contenders Magomed Ankalaev and Aleksandar Rakic on Saturday took place at UFC 308 in Abu Dhabi, where it lived up to promoter expectations as both fighters did battle. No 1 light heavyweight contender Ankalaev eventually beat him by decision to become confirmed as a future title challenger. Now, we will preview the fighters, how they got here, and break down their styles before giving our round-by-round pick of this fight and what it means for the UFC light heavyweight division.
Charge and What’s at Stake as the Background of Fighters
Magomed Ankalaev had a perfect record of 19-1-1 in this kickboxing bout, and he won his latest fight against Johnny Walker via knockout in round two earlier this year. Ankalaev was a tall, athletic light heavyweight with a strategic style of fighting he could win by knockout or submission. He had not lost since 2018, leading him to be pinned as the next potential opponent for Jones-tasked to progress higher in rankings. This Russian fighter comes from Fight Club Akhmat, which has been producing beasts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
The hope was for Aleksandar Rakic to get back on his feet after losing two fights in a row, and he ended up getting TKOd by former champion Jiri Prochazka early last year. Rakic displayed a full array of solid striking, patience, and toughness before his two recent stumbles, which make him a threat for a light heavyweight. It was a fight that gave Rakic an opportunity to show he could hang with the top of the division and get himself closer to fighting for gold.
Round-by-Round Recap
Round 1: A Tactical Start
At the outset of the bout, both fighters appeared to be carefully assessing each other. Although Rakic had a reach advantage and used it to maintain distance with high and low kicks, Ankalaev was the superior striker. And Ankalaev pumped a few body kicks into the mix, connecting with a big left hand that started to put Rakic on notice. Despite Rakic’s busier output in the first half, Ankalaev eventually started to harden his punches and find some balance over who dictated circles around each other. The first could be scored for either fighter as Rakic was finding snippy accuracy with his kicks while Ankalaev remained cool under the Russian heat.
Round 2: Ankalaev Start to Heat Up
Rakic looked somewhat slower in the second frame as Ankalaev got his offensive output to another gear, connecting on several big left hands and body kicks throughout. Though he stayed committed to calf kicks and tried combinations, Rakic started paying for those with more accuracy from Ankalaev, who was looking ever so dangerous whenever the former attempted something. The round showcased Ankalaev’s usage of control and adjustments, sticking to a gameplan with patient pressure as he forced Rakic into tough spots. Rakic attempted to clinch and move Ankalaev into the fence but was unable to do so, as he defended all his takedowns.
FINAL ROUND: Ankalaev Takes it!
In the end, it was going to be whoever won Round 3 taking home the victory. Ankalaev followed up with a well-placed combo and some left hooks, as he made some of them snap the head back on Rakic. Then, in an attempt to change the trajectory of the events, Rakic went for a takedown, which Ankalaev proved too hard to take down. Ankalaev showed a misperception of his own control and endurance in the final minutes, which ultimately secured a win on the judges’ scorecards. Ankalaev gave the impression he had fought like a man ranked No. 1 in his victory over Rakic, perfectly blending speed and strength with high-tempo dominance from start to finish
Post-fight Analysis & Future of Ankalaev
It only solidifies Ankalaev being the next in line for his light heavyweight title shot. The latter, mixed with victories across the board since 2018, expounds upon a well-rounded skillset and finished product to take on top of the division. If Ankalaev is next, then he could face reigning light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, who just defended his belt with a win over Khalil Rountree Jr. Having taken out the top contenders in the division, Pereira would have only a few fighters that can truly challenge him for his gold – Ankalaev is one of them.
Meanwhile, for Aleksandar Rakic, this loss will represent a serious crossroads in his career, as the 29-year-old has now lost three on the bounce. That said, Rakic is still an elite featherweight and could certainly find himself right back in the mix. He’ll likely want to fight lower-ranked opponents in order to pick up some wins and re-enter the fold as a viable light heavyweight contender.
Final Thoughts:
UFC 308 Results: Magomed Ankalaev Vindicated, Remains Atop Light Heavyweight Division This great performance demonstrated not only his talent and stamina but also his tactical thinking because he had to wait for the right moment in order not to eat some of Rakic´s long-reach strikes. UFC enthusiasts will likely appreciate the dramatic turn of events. These changes solidify Ankalaev as a potential title challenger. The light heavyweight division has become somewhat murky.
