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Updated 6/21/2026, 6:13:55 AMCompare ⇄
MMAhealthyMagomed AnkalaevWikipedia: Magomed Ankalaev
Russia · UFC

Magomed Ankalaev

"Big Ank"

ArchetypePressure Grappler

Cuts the cage, changes levels, drowns opponents in control time.

Light HeavyweightOrthodoxAge 34
Record
21-2-1
Win %
88%
KO / TKO
11
Submissions
0
Finish Rate
52%
Height
191 cm
Reach
191 cm
Fights
24
Secret Weapon

Fight Plan: Magomed Ankalaev

A coach-ready game plan — historical weaknesses opponents have exploited and what to drill in camp.

Historical Weaknesses
  • Can be overly patient, leading to low volume and questionable scorecards
  • Susceptible to leg kicks when remaining stationary in a wide stance
  • Has shown lapses in focus in the final moments of fights
Camp Focus
  • Drill takedown defense and cage-wall scrambles
  • Constant lateral movement to break their rhythm
  • Stack southpaw sparring partners in camp
  • Underhook battles and posture work off the back
Blueprint Radar
BP 7.9/10

Fighter fingerprint

Six-axis profile — the shape tells you the style at a glance.

Aggression74Cardio85Wrestling90Fight IQ82Distance Control91Finishing52Magomed Ankalaev
Read the shape

Distance Control and Wrestling are the standout edges; opponents should expect their game plan to lean on these. Finishing is the lowest axis — exploit it.

  • Aggression74
  • Cardio85
  • Wrestling90
  • Fight IQ82
  • Distance Control91
  • Finishing52
Camp Prep ReportWhat to drill this week

Prep for camp: Magomed Ankalaev

Recommendations a coach can act on tomorrow — opponent tendencies, drills, and the sparring styles to stack against this fight.

Most Common Tendencies
Patterns to expect in the cage
  • Utilizes a patient, counter-striking heavy approach from the outside
  • Employs heavy front and roundhouse kicks to the body and head to dictate range
  • Relies on strong defensive wrestling and a heavy top game when forced to the mat
Training Recommendations
Drill these specific looks
  • Drill reactive sprawls — bait the shot off your right hand
  • Pad work on cutting their right-side cage exits
  • Match their pace through round 2, then turn the screws in 3
  • Win exchanges with volume, not single shots — they walk through power
  • Posture and frame drills off bottom — never give up the back
Sparring Recommendations
Stack these styles in camp
  • Southpaw pressure striker
  • Chain-wrestling D1 partner
  • High-output kickboxer with heavy leg kicks
  • Black-belt grappler comfortable on bottom
Find Footage

See it on film

Every read above should be verifiable. Jump straight to the footage on the platforms that host it legally — official channels first, archive sites second.

Striking Tape

Distance, combinations, defensive movement

Wrestling / Grappling Tape

Entries, cage control, scrambles, submissions

Recent Fights

Last 3 performances, full rounds and post-fight breakdowns

Coaches: official clip embeds per fighter are coming next — for now, deep links open searches pre-filtered to Magomed Ankalaev.

Fighter Evolution

How Magomed has changed

Trend lines across the last three years of tape.

2022
Aggression7.6
Wrestling7.8
Fight IQ7.0
2024
Aggression8.3
Wrestling8.5
Fight IQ7.7
2026
Aggression9.2
Wrestling9.0
Fight IQ8.2

Synthesized from recent fight tape · refresh to recompute

Similar Fighters

Stylistic neighbors

Closest matches across attributes, finish profile, and discipline — useful for sparring partner selection.

Status / Injuries

healthy

No recent injuries reported; scheduled for upcoming bout.

Checked 6/21/2026

Recent Form

  • L
    vs N/A
    N/A · RN/A · UFC
    2025-10-04
  • W
    vs Johnny Walker
    KO/TKO · R2 · UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Walker 2
    2024-01-13
  • NC
    vs Johnny Walker
    Illegal Knee · R1 · UFC 294
    2023-10-21
  • D
    vs Jan Blachowicz
    S Dec · R5 · UFC 282
    2022-12-10
  • W
    vs Anthony Smith
    TKO · R2 · UFC 277
    2022-07-30

Availability

active
Next: UFC Fight Night 282 · 2026-07-25

Scheduled to face Khalil Rountree

Record

W-L-D
21-2-1
KO / TKO
11
Submissions
0
Win %
88%

Attribute Profile

Chin88
Cardio85
Fight IQ82
Striking92
Grappling88
Wrestling90

Scouting Summary

Magomed Ankalaev is an elite, well-rounded light heavyweight who combines high-level Master of Sport wrestling with technical Dagestani striking. While he possesses knockout power and dominant grappling, his tendency to fight at a methodical pace sometimes allows opponents to stay in the contest longer than necessary.

Primary source ↗

Tendencies

  • Utilizes a patient, counter-striking heavy approach from the outside
  • Employs heavy front and roundhouse kicks to the body and head to dictate range
  • Relies on strong defensive wrestling and a heavy top game when forced to the mat
  • Often waits for opponents to overextend before punishing with precise straight punches

Signature Moves

  • Front kick to the face
  • Counter check hook
  • Heavy ground-and-pound from top half-guard
  • Double leg takedown against the fence

Weaknesses

  • Can be overly patient, leading to low volume and questionable scorecards
  • Susceptible to leg kicks when remaining stationary in a wide stance
  • Has shown lapses in focus in the final moments of fights