Ankalaev, Walker run it back in first UFC event of 2024

Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker will ‘run it back’ when they face off in the light heavyweight main event of a UFC Fight Night, set for the APEX Facility in Las Vegas on the morning of Sunday 14 January 2024.

Ankalaev (17-1-1, 1 NC) and Walker (21-7, 1 NC) faced off at UFC 294 in October last year, though their match was called off with just over three minutes of the first round elapsed due to an accidental but illegal knee strike from Ankalaev which rendered Walker unable to continue – leading to a declaration of No Contest (NC).

Ankalaev was looking to continue the form which had seen him rack up a 12-fight unbeaten streak (11 wins, plus a draw with former division champion Jan Blachowicz stretching from 2018 to 2022), while Walker had registered three successive wins over Ion Cutelaba, Paul Craig and Anthony Smith through 2022 and 2023.

“They could've taken points away from him or disqualify him, it's an illegal shot,” said an angry Walker in reference to their last meeting, feeling that Ankalaev should have been disqualified.

“He could've put me out in a very illegal shot that could've damaged my brain. You know the rules, it's a very dirty move. That's why I'm upset.”

Ankalaev noted, “I understand that doing something crazy like that gets the viewership up, and I’m starting to understand that this is something that is necessary moving forward. We’re working on it. We’re working on something, so soon you can probably expect a show.”

The match has major significance for the light heavyweight division, with the winner likely to become a major contender to face champion Alex Pereira later in the year.

The rest of the main card features a flyweight fight pitting Matheus Nicolai against Manel Kape; Jim Miller faces Gabriel Benitez in a lightweight clash; Ricky Simon battles Mario Bautista in the bantamweight division; and a middleweight opener sees Phil Hawes face Brunno Ferreira.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT: ANKALAEV VS. WALKER 2 – MAIN CARD

- Main event: Light heavyweight: Magomed Ankalaev v Johnny Walker

- Flyweight: Matheus Nicolai v Manel Kape

- Lightweight: Jim Miller v Gabriel Benitez

- Bantamweight: Ricky Simon v Mario Bautista

- Middleweight: Phil Hawes v Brunno Ferreira