Expert prediction
UFC 294 Preview: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker Prediction, Odds, and Picks (Oct 21)
Pick rationale
Analysis & key factors
- Magomed Ankalaev is coming back to the Octagon for the first time after a split draw with Jan Blachowicz.
- Both fighters are famous for their punching power, with knockout being their favorite finishing method.
- Ankalaev has only one loss in his portfolio, but it did not happen by a KO/TKO; Walker has four losses by this method.
UFC 294 is stacked! It’s not just about the main and co-main event; there are many other awesome matchups on the fight card. One of those is the light heavyweight clash between two knockout experts, Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker.
How to Watch
- When: Saturday, October 21, 2023, at 2:00 p.m ET
- Where: Etihad Arena, Yas Island, United Arab Emirates
- How to Watch: PPV
Odds
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Magomed Ankalaev | |
| Johnny Walker |
Fight Preview
Magomed Ankalaev (18-1-1) last fought in December 2022, when he and Jan Blachowicz went toe to toe in a battle for the vacant UFC Light Heavyweight title. It was a real war inside the Octagon that lasted for the full 25 minutes.
Ankalaev landed 23 significant strikes more than his opponent, as well as made two takedowns without suffering any. Still, that wasn’t enough for him to win. Instead, it was a split draw, a rather controversial one as Ankalaev received 92% of the media vote.
Fast-forward to October 21, 2023, and the Dagestani knockout expert is fighting again. His opponent at UFC 294 is Brazilian fighter Johnny Walker who’s 21-7 overall. Same as Ankalaev, this guy too is a fantastic striker. Each of them lands over three significant strikes per minute, which is actually a good number. But these guys aren’t about volume. Instead, they’re all about power.
So, the big question is which fighter will cause more damage on Saturday? Judging by the Ankalaev vs. Walker odds, it’s gonna be the Dagestani.
Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker Prediction
Rather surprisingly for a Dagestani fighter, Ankalaev doesn’t care much about wrestling. Instead, his strongest weapon is his insane punching power. It’s a similar case when it comes to Johhny Walker, but the Brazilian just doesn’t have as strong a chin as Ankalaev.
READ ALSO: UFC 294 Preview: Kamaru Usman vs. Khamzat Chimaev Prediction, Odds, and Picks (Oct 21)
The evidence of this is that four of Walker’s seven career losses happened by KO/TKO. Ankalaev, on the other hand, has never been knocked out. He was, however, knocked down once (by Thiago Santos in 2021) but he managed to get back up and win the fight in the end.
Free Pick:
MMA
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