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Magomed Ankalaev blamed for lackluster UFC Abu Dhabi main event by former UFC champion

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Magomed Ankalaev blamed for lackluster UFC Abu Dhabi main event by former UFC champion

A former UFC champion believes Magomed Ankalaev's style is set up for slow-paced fights like his win at UFC Abu Dhabi.

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev returned to the win column by defeating Bogdan Guskov at UFC Abu Dhabi last weekend. After a knockout loss to Alex Pereira in their UFC 320 rematch, Ankalaev returned to the title mix with an impressive late knockout against Guskov.

Despite the win, Ankalaev heard from social media critics of his at-times sluggish performance against Guskov. While Ankalaev has earned several finishes during his UFC career, he's won most of his fights via decision, earning himself the label of being ‘boring' in the minds of many fans.

Ankalaev blamed Guskov for the slow-paced fight last weekend in his post-fight remarks. One former UFC champion believes Ankalaev's style fails to create fan-friendly bouts.

TJ Dillashaw: Magomed Ankalaev's ‘boring' style to blame for sluggish UFC Abu Dhabi

In a recent episode of the JAXXON Podcast, former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw scorched Ankalaev's style following UFC Abu Dhabi.

“Boring! Just so boring,†Dillashaw said of Ankalaev.

“He's just such a point fighter. You can't fight him the way Guskov did. You can't stand in his distance and let him – he's a one punch, one kick at a time kind of guy.†(h/t MMA Junkie)

Dillashaw went on to point out that former UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira set the blueprint for all of Ankalaev's future opponents.

“You can see it perfectly when Pereira fights him,†Dillashaw continued on Ankalaev.

“The first fight compared to the second fight. The first fight he stayed in that distance and let him pick his shot at a time, get his angle, throw one kick, throw one punch. And in the second fight, he comes forward, puts him on his back leg, and gets him out. So, you can't let him fight his fight. You got to put the pressure on him; you got to make him fight going backwards.

“Yes, you're taking some risk, but it's a lot better than you just sitting there and losing a fight.â€

Do you agree with TJ Dillashaw's stance on Magomed Ankalaev's style? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM


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UFC newcomer Luis Hernandez wants to ‘pull a Kevin Holland’

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UFC newcomer Luis Hernandez wants to ‘pull a Kevin Holland’
Luis
Hernandez wants to rise to stardom.

Hernandez earned his
Ultimate Fighting Championship contract with a submission win
on
Dana White's Contender Series earlier this month. He then made
a 10-day turnaround, stepping up on two days' notice for his UFC
debut against Sedriques
Dumas at
UFC Vegas 121.

“The Stache†earned a $100,000 performance bonus for forcing Dumas
to tap to a guillotine choke in under a minute. The Miami-Dade
Sheriff's Office deputy is looking to stay active in two divisions
and wants to become a household name.

Luis Hernandez wants to fight at middleweight and welterweight
after his unbeaten UFC start

Hernandez's short-notice UFC debut came at light heavyweight.
However, he wants to primarily compete at middleweight while
occasionally dropping to welterweight. The 30-year-old wants to
stay active and become a household name before turning his
attention to championship aspirations.

“I'm a company man,†Hernandez said on the “Deep Waters†podcast.
“I'm gonna make the fights happen. Any weight class you call me,
I’m about that money… I want to pull a Kevin
Holland and do both 170 and 185. I do want to go up the
rankings, but I want to become first a household name.â€

Hernandez holds a 9-0 record, with all nine of his victories coming
by stoppage.

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Raoni Barcelos shares video from hospital bed, vows to ‘come back stronger’ after terrifying UFC Vegas 121 loss

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Raoni Barcelos shares video from hospital bed, vows to ‘come back stronger’ after terrifying UFC Vegas 121 loss

Raoni Barcelos released a video from his hospital bed almost 48 hours after his scary defeat to Raul Rosas Jr. to confirm he's “doing well†and already anticipates a “stronger†return.

Barcelos had his five-fight winning streak snapped in the main event of UFC Vegas 121, which went down this past Saturday at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, after collapsing unconscious in the fifth round in his bantamweight clash. The 39-year-old veteran shared a short statement Monday morning to say he was “doing great,†and thank fans on a video post hours later.

“Hey everyone, how's it going?†Barcelos said in Portuguese. “I'm here to send you a message and let you know that I'm doing well. I'm doing really well and undergoing all the exams here at the hospital. This is just the hospital's protocol, so I have to go through all of them. That's it, guys. I want to thank everyone for all the prayers and all the kind messages. Please keep sending that positive energy.â€

Barcelos was ahead in the scorecards and likely three minutes away from a decision win — had they gone the distance — before passing out in the clinch and needing immediate medical assistance, getting transported to a local hospital. Rosas Jr. was declared the winner by technical knockout.

“We move forward, on to the next one,†Barcelos said. “I gave everything I had inside that cage. Like I said before, I was only leaving that cage if I was carried out, and that's exactly how it happened. It wasn't the way I wanted it to be. I wanted to become champion and leave with the victory, but God knows everything. So we move on to the next one.

“I'm here, doing well. I'll be back, and I'll come back stronger. And I want to send all of you a kiss and a big hug. Thank you so much for everything. Thank you, and let's keep moving forward!â€

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Regian Eersel to defend Muay Thai gold in rematch with George Jarvis at The Inner Circle 33 on October 2 

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Regian Eersel to defend Muay Thai gold in rematch with George Jarvis at The Inner Circle 33 on October 2 

Seven times, ONE's lightweight kickboxing crown has ended up around the same waist. The lightweight Muay Thai belt has followed four times, and its current owner is about to defend it against a familiar face.

Regian Eersel puts his ONE Lightweight Muay Thai World Title up against George “G-Unit†Jarvis in the main event of The Inner Circle 33 on Friday, October 2. The five-bout card streams exclusively for members from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

The Suriname-born, Amsterdam-based striker has lost so rarely that his career defeats can be counted on one hand. He has defended gold in two of the most demanding striking disciplines on the planet.

His most recent kickboxing title win came via unanimous decision over Rungrawee Sitsongpeenong at The Inner Circle 10. That performance showed the two-sport king had not lost a step.

His most recent Muay Thai outing, meanwhile, was the first meeting with Jarvis at ONE Fight Night 34 in August 2025. It lasted 84 seconds before a combination left no room for argument.

That result reinforced his standing as one of the most technically complete strikers in the world. The rematch now tests whether a second look changes anything.

Few titleholders in ONE history have been as dominant. On Friday, he looks to extend that run against the man he dispatched last year.

Regian Eersel meets a challenger with Rungrawee history

Jarvis, a 26-year-old Englishman and former WBC Muay Thai World Champion, owns two knockouts of Rungrawee, a feat Eersel never achieved. He has spent every day since their first fight working toward another result, and dethroning the most successful lightweight striker in ONE history would stand as a generational statement.

The co-main event pits unbeaten atomweight Duangdawnoi Looksaikongdin, whose bonus-winning knockout of Regan “Coconut†Gowing came at ONE Friday Fights 137 last December, against Switzerland's Aline Seiberth, a WBC European titleholder with 30 professional wins. Dzhamil Osmanov vs. Ben Woolliss, Mia Trevorrow vs. Sheila Barrios, and Fahlap Toyotarayong vs. Yugo Kato round out the lineup.

This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM


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