Magomed
Ankalaev has floated a move to heavyweight, saying he has been
unable to secure an opponent in the light heavyweight division.
The former
Ultimate Fighting Championship 205-pound champion called for a
January fight in a post on X. Ankalaev (21-2-1) is coming off a
fifth-round TKO victory over Bogdan
Guskov in July, rebounding from his title-rematch loss to
Alex
Pereira.
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Magomed Ankalaev seeks a January fight after naming Khalil
Rountree, Dominick Reyes and Paulo Costa in light heavyweight
dispute
“Looks like nobody in the top five at light heavyweight wants to
fight,” Ankalaev wrote on X. “Everybody’s got a reason. Khalil
Rountree not ready, Reyes just fought and is injured. Costa
wants $10 million.”
Ankalaev then challenged the heavyweight division.
“So what about heavyweight? Anybody ready to fight? Let’s do it in
January,” he added.
“Big Ank” previously offered to face Costa in September, describing
himself as the Brazilian’s “get-out-of-jail-free card” amid Costa’s
contract dispute with the UFC.
Ankalaev has not identified a potential heavyweight opponent, and
no move up has been announced.
Looks like nobody in the top five at light
heavyweight wants to fight. Everybody’s got a reason. Khalil
Rountree not ready Reyes just fought and is injured. Costa
wants $10 million. So what about heavyweight? Anybody ready to
fight? Let’s do it in January.— Muhammad big ANK Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM)
November 9, 2026