Expert prediction
UFC Vegas 84: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker Prediction, Odds, and Picks (Jan 13)
Pick rationale
Analysis & key factors
- Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker is the main event of the next UFC event.
- This is the second Ankalaev vs. Walker fight, with their first being a no contest.
- Both fighters are incredible finishers with striking being their strongest weapon.
The Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker light heavyweight fight headlines the first UFC event of 2024. The event is titled UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Walker 2 or UFC Fight Night 234, UFC Vegas 84, and UFC on ESPN+ 92.
This is the second time Ankalaev fights Walker, with their first bout ending in a no contest after an accidental knee rendered the Brazilian fighter unable to continue. This happened in the first round after just a bit over three minutes in the Octagon.
Before the end of the bout, we saw each fighter land some powerful strikes, but it was Ankalaev who recorded a takedown. Will the Russian pick up where he left off?
How to Watch
- When: Saturday, January 13, 2023, at 9:00 p.m. ET
- Where: UFC Apex, Las Vegas, Nevada
- How to Watch: ESPN+
Odds
| Magomed Ankalaev | |
| Johnny Walker |
Fight Preview
Magomed Ankalaev (17-1-2) is a former UFC Light Heavyweight title contender who came very close to winning the championship belt in 2022. He put on a great fight in the title bout with Jan Blachowicz, but the judges scored a split draw in the end. Before that, he won 9 fights in a row.
When it comes to Ankalaev’s losses, he only got defeated once in his professional career. It happened on his UFC debut when we saw Paul Craig beat him by submission. That’s kind of surprising given that the Dagestan-based fighter is a great wrestler/grappler, with a background in combat sambo.
Still, Ankalaev’s strongest weapon is striking. This guy lands 3.56 significant strikes a minute, which might not seem too high a number, but his punches are kicks are incredibly powerful. The evidence of this is that he’s got 9 wins by KO/TKO in his portfolio.
But his next opponent has even more wins by this method. Johhny Walker is 21-7-1 overall with 16 wins by KO/TKO. What needs to worry his fans is that he also has four losses by KO/TKO in his career, the most recent of which happened in the fight against Jamahal Hill in February 2022.
Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johhny Walker Prediction
Magomed Ankalaev is the betting favorite for a reason. He’s more well-rounded than Johhny Walker, and he probably has more power in his strikes. On top of everything, the Dagestani fighter has already shown he can handle his Brazilian foe.
Free Pick:
MMA
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