In the Clinch: Can Santos Fend Off Ankalaev? UFC Vegas 50 – Thiago Santos has been in the UFC for a long time. “Marietta” (22-9-0), 38, debuted in August 2013. Including Saturday’s bout against Magomed Ankalaev, that’s a stretch of 22 bouts, with a record of 14-8-0. He’s fought for the title and is trying to make the climb again.
At media day, dressed impeccably in a mustard yellow jumper with black sunglasses, the No. 5 Santos calmly and confidently answered questions about the fight. While he respects Ankalaev’s abilities and knows Saturday will be tough, at the end of the day, this is his job and it’s “just another fight.”
It’s hard to argue with him.
Since moving up to light heavyweight in 2018, Santos has fought former champions Jon Jones, Jon Blachowicz, and current champion, colleague Glover Teixeira. He has a family now, a daughter with wife and female bantamweight Yana Kunitskaya.
Santos has a lot to fight for.
Across from Santos in the octagon Saturday will be Russian phenom Magomed Ankalaev.
The No. 6 Ankalaev (16-1-0), 29, has won seven straight fights and could take Santos’s ranking with a big win. Like Santos, Ankalaev was respectful talking about the fight. He knows it will be tough, but is expecting a win, and how he wins will determine where ends up in the rankings.
Ankalaev just defeated title challenger Volkan Oezdemir at UFC 267 last October and Santos will be another one. Fans will remember when he twice finished the intense and intimidating Ion Cutelaba, using his intensity against him. Nine years younger than Santos, I suspect he feels that is an advantage for him.
The old lion against the young lion.
The experience and striking advantage go to Santos, while Ankalaev will be the bigger fighter with the better ground game. Ankalaev also has good striking, as his nine knockout wins indicate.
Santos said the rise of Teixeira to champion at age 42 inspired him. I expect Ankalaev to test that inspiration with five full rounds on Saturday night.
In the Clinch: Can Santos Fend Off Ankalaev? UFC Vegas 50 – More Resources
- 2021 Panini UFC Prizm Trading Cards Checklist
- 2020 Topps UFC Striking Signatures Trading Cards Checklist
- 2019 Topps UFC Chrome Trading Cards Checklist
Thiago Santos
Magomed Ankalaev
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