UFC Vegas 84’s Magomed Ankalaev: Johnny Walker ‘was basically just trying to throw the first fight’

Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker will run things back at UFC Vegas 84 this weekend (Sat., Jan. 13, 2024).

The Russian Light Heavyweight contender, Ankalaev, has been one of the unluckiest fighters in mixed martial arts (MMA) since 2022. Caught up in the mess that has surrounded the promotion’s 205-pound title, Ankalaev’s vacant championship collision against Jan Blachowicz resulted in a questionable split draw in UFC 282’s main event in December 2022. Ankalaev. 31, followed up the performance against Walker, who he barely fought after three minutes of action led to a no-contest via illegal knee at UFC 294 in October 2023 (watch highlights).

“After that shot, he was actually the one trying to tell me that was an illegal blow — so he was conscious enough and in his mind enough to say, ‘Hey dude, that was illegal,’” Ankalaev said at UFC Vegas 84 media day. “And then when they stopped the fight all of a sudden he started playing this whole thing of like, ‘Oh, I can’t fight anymore’ or whatever. But I’m pretty sure that he was basically just trying to throw the fight because he seemed to be just fine.”

The Ankalaev vs. Walker rematch has even bigger potential ramifications within the division now that the main event spotlight is over it. Outside of his previous two bouts, Ankalaev has been on a complete tear with nine straight wins (17-1-1, 1 no contest). Walker, on the other hand, quietly rides a three-fight winning streak (21-7, 1 no contest) before the first Ankalaev encounter, making the winner of the rematch a very possible next contender for the champion, Alex Pereira.

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TOP-RANKED LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT REMATCH! Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) kicks off its 2024 mixed martial arts (MMA) campaign on Sat., Jan. 20, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada, with No. 3-ranked Light Heavyweight contender, Magomed Ankalaev, running it back against No. 7-seeded Johnny Walker after their initial wild encounter went up in smoke. In UFC Vegas 84’s co-main event, Lightweight legend, Jim Miller, locks horns with upstart knockout artist, Gabriel Benitez, in an intriguing 155-pound showdown.

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“I’m not looking for just coming out there and having my hand raised at the end of the fight,” Ankalaev said. “What I want to do is I want to make sure that I get there, I make a statement and the fight is going to be over way before the final bell.

“I believe that 2024 is my year, and by the end of this year, you’ll see that the strap is around my waist,” he concluded. “As the managers are telling me, it’s basically if I win this fight, there is nobody else who deserves the title run more than I do.”

Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Vegas 84 fight card right here, starting with the ESPN+ “Prelims” matches, which are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET, then the remaining main card balance (also on ESPN+) at 7 p.m. ET.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC Vegas 84: “Ankalaev vs. Walker 2” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.