Credit:Getty/UFC
Credit: Getty/UFC
On paper, the
UFC Fight Night 186 co-main event looked to be one of
Saturday’s most entertaining pairings.
When Magomed
Ankalaev and Nikita
Krylov stepped into the Octagon, however, they ended up being
one of eight fights on a nine-bout card that went the distance. And
despite the finishing track record of both light heavyweights, the
bout was a bit of a grinder as Ankalaev emerged with a unanimous
decision victory.
“I was planning to fight standing up but once he started wrestling
with me, I had to change my tactics and I also wrestled,” Ankalaev
said.
“I feel great, but the fight didn’t go as I expected. I could say
that it was a little boring, but the end result is that I’m happy
with my win. I’m not disappointed because my victory is what
matters.”
Ankalaev has now won six consecutive fights and is a rising star in
the 205-pound division. He hopes that his latest victory can push
him to a greater stage.
“I hope that many people were watching this fight and I’m hoping
that they were watching because I was fighting No. 8 in my division
and now I’m ready for my next opponent,” he said. “I’m hoping that
UFC would consider to give me a main event, five-round fight
because I want to see if I can go the distance, if I can go the
entire five rounds, just to test myself before the title
fights.”
Ankalaev will be watching the light heavyweight division in the
coming weeks with great interest, as he hopes to receive a more
highly-ranked adversary for his next UFC appearance.
“Krylov wasn’t my ideal opponent because I was expecting for me to
be propelled in the rankings in my division,” Ankalaev said. “I was
expecting someone higher up. But right now, Top 5 or Top 6 fighters
in my division – they have fights scheduled. So depending on who
wins, I’m hoping to get an opponent among those winners.”