Credit:Getty/UFC
Credit: Getty/UFC
Credit: Getty/UFC
Credit: Getty/UFC
A light heavyweight showdown between Thiago
Santos and Magomed
Ankalaev is in the works to serve as the main event for an
Ultimate Fighting Championship card on March 12.
ESPN was first to report the booking, which is in the process
of being finalized. The event does not yet have a location.
A former light heavyweight title challenger, Santos halted a
three-bout skid in his last outing, when he took a five-round
verdict against Johnny
Walker in the UFC Fight Night 193 main event on Oct. 2. After a
lengthy stint at middleweight, “Marreta” earned a title shot
following finishes of Eryk Anders,
Jimi
Manuwa and Jan
Blachowicz at 205 pounds. The 37-year-old Brazilian gave then
champ Jon
Jones a difficult test, falling to “Bones” via split decision
at UFC 239.
Ankalaev, 29, is one of the fastest-rising talents in the light
heavyweight division. The Dagestani has won seven consecutive
contests since being submitted by Paul Craig
in his Octagon debut at UFC Fight Night 127 in September 2018. Most
recently, Ankalaev earned a decisive decision victory against
former No. 1 contender Volkan
Oezdemir at UFC 267.