UFC Fight Night results, highlights: Magomed Ankalaev lands brutal knockout against Johnny Walker

Magomed Ankalaev is back in the winners’ circle and Johnny Walker is off to the doctor. Ankalaev stamped the first UFC event of 2024 with a brutal knockout in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas on Saturday.

The second meeting between Ankalaev and Walker was far more decisive than their no-contest in October. Ankalaev sat Walker with a hard right hook and followed through with a right uppercut that crushed Walker’s nose. Walker clutched his face in pain as referee Marc Goddard intervened. The stoppage came in Round 2 following Ankalaev’s effective leg attacks in Round 1.

“I’m ready to fight for the title,” Ankalaev said post-fight through a translator. “I have 10 victories in a row. I’m worth it. Give me that title right now.”

Ankalaev is unbeaten in his last 12 fights with some interesting caveats. Ankalaev fought Jan Blachowicz to a draw in a vacant UFC light heavyweight title fight in December 2022. His subsequent bout with Walker at UFC 294 ended in a no-contest after Ankalaev cracked Walker with an illegal knee. The outcome of their first fight fueled the drama of the rematch. Ankalaev caught Walker with a low blow in Round 1 on Saturday that pissed off Walker and encouraged the referee to give a hard warning.

Ankalaev (18-1-1, 1 NC) is currently ranked No. 3 in the UFC’s official light heavyweight rankings and isn’t far from another title shot. Walker (21-8, 1 NC) snapped a four-fight undefeated streak in another failed effort to break through to the world title scene.