1. Magomed Alibulatovich Ankalaev is a Russian professional mixed martial artist.
30 Facts About Magomed Ankalaev
1. 2.
Magomed Ankalaev currently competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he is the current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.
3.
Magomed Ankalaev is the winner of 2016 Akhmat FC Light Heavyweight Grand Prix.
4.
Magomed 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.
5.
Magomed Ankalaev was compelled at the idea of transitioning to MMA, because of the similarity between MMA and combat sambo.
6.
Magomed Ankalaev then became the Russian and World champion in amateur MMA.
7.
Magomed Ankalaev was named the 2015 Mixed Martial Artist of Russia by the Russian MMA federation.
8.
In December 2013, in the WMMAA's World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan, Magomed Ankalaev won the gold medal, beating Kazakhstani Rustam Malaev in the finals.
9.
In June 2014, at the Russian MMA Championship, Magomed Ankalaev ended up beating two of Fedor Emelianenko's students, Valentin Moldavsky in semi-final, and Vadim Nemkov in the finals; thereby qualifying for the WMMAA Championship in Minsk, Belarus, in September of the same year.
10.
In March 2015, Ankalaev won the finals of the MMA Cup of Dagestan, by beating Muslim Magomedov.
11.
Barely a month later, Magomed Ankalaev won the Russian Cup, by again beating his rival, Muslim Magomedov in the final.
12.
One month later, at the Russian MMA Championship, Magomed Ankalaev beat his old rival Valentin Moldavsky via split decision in the final, to win the gold medal.
13.
In November 2015, Magomed Ankalaev won the gold medal in the WMMAA World Championship held in Prague, Czech Republic.
14.
Magomed Ankalaev made his professional debut on January 18,2014, at Oplot Challenge 96, where he beat Vasily Babich of Ukraine by majority decision.
15.
Magomed Ankalaev made his promotional debut against Paul Craig in March 2018 at UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs Volkov.
16.
Magomed Ankalaev dominated the fight for the majority of the bout, winning with clean striking, takedowns and top control; Magomed Ankalaev had Craig badly hurt with a body kick in the first round.
17.
Magomed Ankalaev was expected to face Darko Stosic on February 23,2019, at UFC Fight Night 145.
18.
Magomed Ankalaev faced Dalcha Lungiambula on November 9,2019, at UFC Fight Night 163.
19.
Magomed Ankalaev won the fight via knockout in the third round.
20.
Magomed Ankalaev faced Ion Cutelaba on February 29,2020, at UFC Fight Night 169.
21.
Magomed Ankalaev won via a technical knockout in the first round.
22.
Magomed Ankalaev was scheduled to face Volkan Oezdemir on September 4,2021, at UFC Fight Night 191.
23.
Magomed Ankalaev faced Thiago Santos on March 12,2022, at UFC Fight Night 203.
24.
Magomed Ankalaev next faced Anthony Smith on July 30,2022, at UFC 277.
25.
Magomed Ankalaev won the fight via technical knockout in the second round.
26.
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 Magomed Ankalaev was changed to a 5-round title fight.
27.
Magomed Ankalaev won the fight by knockout in the second round after dropping Walker with a right hand.
28.
Magomed Ankalaev faced Aleksandar Rakic on October 26,2024 at UFC 308.
29.
Magomed Ankalaev faced Alex Pereira for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship on March 8,2025 at UFC 313.
30.
Magomed Ankalaev lost his father when he was in the ninth or tenth grade.