Dallas – Magomed Ankalaev feels undervalued.
Given his hard work and successful recovery, the UFC light heavyweight contender feels underappreciated. At UFC 277, Ankalaev (18-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) stopped Anthony Smith via second-round TKO.
No matter how good his run was, Ankalaev still felt undervalued.
After UFC 277, Ankalaev told the crowd through an interpreter that they should show respect for him. Jiri Prochazka was given a shot at the title after just two wins, but I had to wait a full year for a crack at the crown.
Ankalaev has been defeated once. Until the end of the third round in 2018, he was in complete control of Paul Craig until he was beaten. Previously, Nikita Krylov, Volkan Oezdemir, Thiago Santos, and now Smith have fallen to him.
The 30-year-old wants a title shot, but he’ll do anything the UFC asks him to.
That may have changed things, but Ankalaev is not asking for anything. “I’ll see what they have to say to my management and I’ll fight.”