Two really strong fighters, Magomed Ankalaev, and Johnny Walker are going to have an exciting rematch in the light heavyweight division. Both of them had their first fight at UFC Vegas 84, but it ended in a no-contest.
The match was stopped by a doctor because Ankalaev made an illegal knee strike. This was a big deal in their careers, and it left fans wanting a clear winner. They're set for a rematch at UFC Apex in Las Vegas to settle things and give a proper ending to their earlier encounter.
Now, both guys want to fight again and show everyone who's the better fighter.
Ankalaev and Walker's first match happened at UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. It was a close fight where both fighters showed their striking skills and strength. Ankalaev landed more important hits and spent more time in control on the ground.
Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker are going to have an exciting rematch in the light heavyweight division
Meanwhile, Walker knocked Ankalaev down twice and tried to make him give up with submissions. The fight was so tight that either of them could have won, but the judges decided Ankalaev won with a split decision. The scores were 29-28, 28-29, and 29-28.
A lot of fans and experts didn't agree with the decision. They thought Walker did more harm and should have won. Walker was really mad about it and said he was cheated. On the other hand, Ankalaev stood by his win. He said he hit and controlled Walker better. Ankalaev even accused Walker of pretending to be hurt and slowing down the fight.
Since the first fight had a disputed result, Ankalaev and Walker wanted to have a rematch. The UFC agreed and set the second fight for UFC 271 in Houston, Texas. Both guys have been working hard in training, getting better at what they do. They want the second fight to be clear with no questions about who's the better fighter.
Ankalaev and Walker wanted a rematch after their first fight had a disputed result.
Ankalaev, who is the 5th best in the division, is sure he'll do well again and beat Walker once more. He thinks he's better than Walker in every way and plans to finish the fight this time. He also wants to prove he's a real contender for the title and shut down the people who doubt him.
Walker, who is the 9th best in the division, really wants to make up for his loss and prove he's the superior fighter. He believes he should have won the first fight and is confident he'll win the rematch more decisively. The Brazilian mixed martial artist also aims to recover from his previous loss and get back on the path toward the title.
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The rematch between Ankalaev and Walker is not just a personal fight; it's also a chance to compete for a title shot. The current champion in the light heavyweight division is Jan Blachowicz. He defended his title two times against Israel Adesanya and Glover Teixeira.
The winner of the fight between Aleksandar Rakic and Jiri Prochazka, who are ranked #2 and #3, is likely to be the next challenger for Blachowicz's title.
But, if Ankalaev or Walker wins the rematch in a really impressive way, they could strongly argue for a title shot. Ankalaev has won eight fights in a row and beat some top contenders like Ion Cutelaba and Nikita Krylov. Walker, who's famous for his awesome knockouts, has also defeated top fighters in the division, including Misha Cirkunov and Ryan Spann.
The rematch between Ankalaev and Walker is going to be an exciting and intense fight, deciding who's the better fighter and closer to the title. It's a must-watch for any MMA fan.
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