Magomed Ankalaev finishes strong to beat Nikita Krylov by unanimous decision
Magomed Ankalaev defeats Nikita Krylov by unanimous decision.
The heavyweight division takes center stage for the second-straight week as Jairzinho Rozenstruik meets Cyril Gane at UFC Fight Night 186 on Saturday, Feb. 27.
In the co-main event, Nikita Krylov and Magomed Ankalaev meet inside the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Krylov (27-7) is a UFC veteran who made is octagon debut in August 2013. Since 2017, Krylov has been a roll as he’s posted a 6-2 record on way to a No. 8 ranking in the UFC light heavyweight division. Over that stretch the only two men to beat him were current UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz and current No. 1 contender Glover Teixeira, who defeated Krylov by split decision. In Krylov’s last outing, he picked up a unanimous decision win over Johnny Walker.
Ankalaev (14-1) has been on fire as of late and comes into the fight ranked at No. 11. After losing his UFC debut in 2018, Ankalaev has racked up five straight wins. Last year in 2020, Ankalaev picked up a controversial win over Ion Cutelaba. As a result of the controversy due to a bad stoppage, UFC president Dana White rebooked the two for UFC 254 in October in which there was no controversy in their rematch as Ankalaev knocked Cutebala out cold in the opening round of their fight.
Here’s how the Ankalaev and Krylov fight went down with a round-by-round breakdown and scoring. For a full list of result UFC Vegas 20 results, click here.
Round 1
After a feeling out process through the first 30 seconds, Krylov shots in and attempts a takedown. Ankalaev tries to fight it off, but eventually Krylov secures the takedown against the fence.
Ankalaev makes his way to feet, but Krylov still has ahold of Ankalaev and tries to keep things in the clinch.
Ankalaev breaks the clinch and the two return to the center of the octagon at the halfway point of the round.
Ankalaev lands a power shot, his first of the fight, but its Krylov being a more active. As the round goes on Ankalaev is getting busier, but Krylov is still busier than him
The two trade blows with 30 seconds left in the round. Both having moments on the feet, but neither fighter is hurt as no major shots have landed.
MyMMANews scores it 10-9 Krylov
Round 2
Krylov tries to go right for a takedown, but it’s stuffed.
Ankalaev lands a big shot that lands flesh to Krylov’s face, but Krylov returns fire moments later.
Krylov goes to the body with two nice kicks and then goes forward and fakes a takedown.
Ankalaev is having a lot of success with a counter right hand and he lands a big knee that catches Krylov’s attention.
Ankalaev goes in for the takedown this time and he lands it with two minutes left in the round. The two remain on the ground for the remaining two minutes. Nothing exciting happened as the two worked to make something happen, but the round ends with Ankalaev riding out the final two minutes on top and taking the round.
MyMMANews scores it 10-9 Ankalaev
Round 3
Krylov goes to the body kicks again and lands two of them to start the round. Moments later he gets a third.
Ankalaev lands a big right hand and both guys are getting after it in the final round.
After landing another right hand, Ankalaev pushes Krylov into the cage and tries for a takedown. Krylov tries to fight off the takedown attempt, but he’s unsuccessful in doing so as Ankalaev gets the takedown along the cage.
Krylov works back to the feet, but the two remained clinched as three minutes have now passed in the last round.
Ankalaev gets another takedown, his second of the round with 90 seconds left in the fight.
Now Ankalaev lands some shots while on top of Krylov. Ankalaev rides out the final seconds and lands a few strikes in the mix as he takes the final round.
MyMMANews scores it 10-9 Ankalaev
MyMMANews scorecard: 29-28 Ankalaev
Official decision: Magomed Ankalaev defeats Nikita Krylov by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
