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Magomed Ankalaev
Russian mixed martial artist (born 1992) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Magomed Alibulatovich Ankalaev (Russian: Магомед Алибулатович Анкалаев; born June 2, 1992) is a Russian professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is the current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. As of July 1, 2025, he is #7 in the UFC men's pound-for-pound rankings.[4]
Ankalaev is the former light heavyweight champion of World Fighting Championship Akhmat.[5] He is also the winner of 2016 Akhmat FC Light Heavyweight Grand Prix.[6]
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Early life
Ankalaev was born on June 2, 1992, in Teletl', Shamilsky District, Dagestan, Russia,[7] to a family of Avar descent. Ankalaev first began training in Greco-Roman Wrestling for one year whilst he was a student at the Dagestan State University, where he graduated in the sport faculty. At that time he also competed in combat sambo, where he was honoured with the title of Master of Sports in the discipline.[8] Ankalaev was compelled at the idea of transitioning to MMA, because of the similarity between MMA and combat sambo. Ankalaev then became the Russian and World champion in amateur MMA.[9][10] Ankalaev was also named the 2015 Mixed Martial Artist of Russia by the Russian MMA federation. Ankalaev is a devout Muslim.[11]
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Mixed martial arts career
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Amateur MMA & combat sambo career
In December 2013, in the WMMAA's World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan, Ankalaev won the gold medal, beating Kazakhstani Rustam Malaev in the finals.[12][13]
In June 2014, at the Russian MMA Championship, Ankalaev ended up beating two of Fedor Emelianenko's students, Valentin Moldavsky in semi-final, and Vadim Nemkov in the finals;[14] thereby qualifying for the WMMAA Championship in Minsk, Belarus, in September of the same year. He went on to win the silver medal.[15]
In March 2015, Ankalaev won the finals of the MMA Cup of Dagestan, by beating Muslim Magomedov.[16] Barely a month later, Magomed Ankalaev won the Russian Cup, by again beating his rival, Muslim Magomedov in the final.[17] One month later, at the Russian MMA Championship, Ankalaev beat his old rival Valentin Moldavsky via split decision in the final, to win the gold medal.[18] In November 2015, Ankalaev won the gold medal in the WMMAA World Championship held in Prague, Czech Republic.[19]
In May 2016, Ankalaev won the Russian MMA Championship, by beating Magomed Shakhrudinov in tourney finals.[20] In November of the same year, Ankalaev won the Combat Sambo Cup of Dagestan,[21] and the gold medal in the WMMAA Championship a few weeks later, in Macau, China.[22][23]
Early career
Ankalaev made his professional debut on January 18, 2014, at Oplot Challenge 96, where he beat Vasily Babich of Ukraine by majority decision.[24] In December 2015, Ankalaev won the MMA Super Cup of Russia, by beating Nadyr Bulkadarov in the pro exhibition fight.[25] At Akhmat FC in 2016, he won the Light Heavyweight Grand Prix.[26] After winning the Chechen MMA promotion World Fighting Championship Akhmat's world title he signed with the UFC in October 2017.[27]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Ankalaev made his promotional debut against Paul Craig in March 2018 at UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Volkov.[28] Ankalaev dominated the fight for the majority of the bout, winning with clean striking, takedowns and top control; Ankalaev had Craig badly hurt with a body kick in the first round. However, in the last five seconds of round three, Craig caught Ankalaev with a triangle choke, giving him his first professional loss at exactly 4:59 of round three.[29]
Rebounding from this loss, Ankalaev was scheduled to fight Marcin Prachnio on September 15, 2018, at UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Oleinik.[30] After a slow start, Ankalaev landed a right hook counter that knocked down Prachnio, who then got up, only to then be hit with a head kick and follow up punch which rendered him unconscious.[31] The knockout earned Ankalaev his first UFC win and Performance of the Night award.[32]
Ankalaev was expected to face Darko Stošić on February 23, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 145.[33] However, Stošić pulled out of the fight on January 23 citing injury.[34] Ankalaev instead faced promotional newcomer Klidson Abreu.[35] Ankalaev won the fight by unanimous decision.[36]
Ankalaev faced Dalcha Lungiambula on November 9, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 163.[37] He won the fight via knockout in the third round.[38] This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.[39]
Ankalaev faced Ion Cuțelaba on February 29, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 169.[40] He won via a technical knockout in the first round.[41] The win was not without controversy as referee Kevin MacDonald stopped the bout believing Cuțelaba was out on his feet while still standing, which Cuțelaba immediately protested. The stoppage was heavily criticized by media outlets, fighters, and fans as being premature.[42][43][44][45] Consequently, the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupation Regulation (DPOR) reviewed the fight, denying Cuțelaba's appeal to overturn the loss.[46][47]
A rematch against Cuțelaba was expected to take place on August 15, 2020, at UFC 252.[48] Cuțelaba then pulled out on August 11 after testing positive for COVID-19 and the bout was rescheduled for UFC Fight Night 175.[49] However, the day of the event, it was announced the fight was once again cancelled after Cuțelaba tested positive for COVID-19 for a second time.[50] They eventually faced each other at UFC 254.[51] Ankalaev won the fight via knockout in round one.[52] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[53]
Ankalev faced Nikita Krylov on February 27, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 186.[54] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[55]
Ankalaev was scheduled to face Volkan Oezdemir on September 4, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 191.[56] The fight was later moved to UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi on October 30, 2021.[57] He won the bout via unanimous decision.[58]
Ankalaev faced Thiago Santos on March 12, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 203.[59] He won the bout via unanimous decision.[60]
Ankalaev next faced Anthony Smith on July 30, 2022, at UFC 277.[61] He won the fight via technical knockout in the second round.[62]
Ankalaev fought Jan Błachowicz for the vacant UFC Light Heavyweight Championship on December 10, 2022, at UFC 282.[63] At first, it was booked as a 3-round co-main event, but then-reigning UFC Light Heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka pulled out of his title defense against Glover Teixeira due to a shoulder injury and subsequently vacated his title, and the fight between Blachowicz and Ankalaev was changed to a 5-round title fight.[64] The fight ended in a controversial[65][66] split draw.[67] 23 out of 25 media members scored the fight as a win for Ankalaev.[68]
Ankalaev faced Johnny Walker at UFC 294.[69] The fight ended in a no-contest after an illegal knee by Ankalaev and the cage-side doctor controversially deemed Walker was unable to continue the fight.[70]
Due to the controversial ending, the pair quickly rematched at UFC Fight Night 234 on January 13, 2024.[71] Ankalaev won the fight by knockout in the second round after dropping Walker with a right hand. This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.[72]
Ankalaev faced Aleksandar Rakić on October 26, 2024 at UFC 308.[73] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[74]
UFC Light Heavyweight Champion
Ankalaev faced Alex Pereira for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship on March 8, 2025 at UFC 313.[75] He won the championship by unanimous decision.[76] 11 out of 21 media outlets scored the bout for Ankalaev.[77]
Ankalaev is scheduled to make his first title defense in a rematch against Alex Pereira on October 4, 2025 at UFC 320.[78]
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Fighting Style
Ankalaev is known for a disciplined striking style grounded in his background in Greco-Roman wrestling and combat sambo. While many Dagestani fighters lean heavily on grappling, Ankalaev has developed into a patient, counter-striking light heavyweight with a strong emphasis on distance management.[79] He primarily fights out of a southpaw stance and favors clean, powerful straight punches and well-timed kicks, often shutting down opponents’ rhythm without overextending.
Though his wrestling credentials are strong, Ankalaev rarely rushes to use grappling offensively. Instead, he typically keeps the fight standing, using his takedown defense and balance to keep control of the pace.[80] His approach has been described as calculated, sometimes even conservative, as he prefers to avoid unnecessary exchanges and pick his shots from the outside. That tactical mindset has allowed him to neutralize more aggressive fighters by staying composed under pressure and capitalizing on their mistakes.[81]
Personal life
Ankalaev lost his father when he was in the ninth or tenth grade.[82] He, as the oldest son, has three sisters and one brother.[83] Ankalaev owns a coffee shop called "Ankl".[84]
Championships and accomplishments
Pro mixed martial arts
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- UFC Light Heavyweight Championship (One time, current)
- First Russian UFC Light Heavyweight Champion[85]
- Performance of the Night (Four times) vs. Marcin Prachnio, Dalcha Lungiambula, Ion Cuțelaba and Johnny Walker[32][39][53][72]
- Second longest win streak in UFC Light Heavyweight division history (9)[86]
- Second longest unbeaten streak in UFC Light Heavyweight division history (14) (behind Jon Jones)[85]
- Fifth longest unbeaten streak in UFC history (14)[85]
- UFC Light Heavyweight Championship (One time, current)
- World Fighting Championship Akhmat
- Russian MMA Union
Amateur MMA/combat sambo
- World MMA Association (WMMAA)
- Russian MMA Union
Russian MMA Championship at Light Heavyweight (2014)[14]- Moscow Open Cup at Light Heavyweight (2014)[98]
- Super Cup of Russia at Light Heavyweight (2014)[99][100][101]
- MMA Cup of Dagestan at Light Heavyweight (2015)[16]
- Russian Cup: North Caucasian Federal District at Light Heavyweight (2015)[102][103]
- Russian MMA Championship at Light Heavyweight (2015)[18][104][105]
- Russian MMA Championship at Light Heavyweight (2016)[106][107]
- Combat Sambo
- Combat Sambo Cup of Dagestan at Light Heavyweight (2016)[21]
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Mixed martial arts record
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| 23 matches | 20 wins | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 10 | 0 |
| By submission | 0 | 1 |
| By decision | 10 | 0 |
| Draws | 1 | |
| No contests | 1 | |
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Pay-per-view bouts
See also
References
External links
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