Light heavyweight fighters Magomed Ankalaev and Ion Cutelaba will take center stage to kick things off on UFC Fight Night: Smith vs Rakic. The duo battled earlier this year with a controversial stoppage dampening the event. As a result, the UFC re-booked the fight for UFC 249.

However, it got postponed repeatedly. Fans now have their fingers crossed. 

Magomed Ankalaev

The Russian fighter amassed a four-fight win streak after losing his UFC debut in 2018. He possesses an attacking style and will look to finish what he started in February. 

Ankalaev stands at #13 in the light heavyweight rankings and realizes that a win will see him jump a few spots. However, his opponent is a better striker in the UFC and will look to make the most of the opportunity to snap the Dagestani’s streak.

Ion Cutelaba

‘The Hulk’ has won 80% of his fights via T/KO. In the last four years, he lost only against ranked fighters like Jared Cannonier, Glover Teixeira, and his upcoming opponent. 

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He is known for volume striking in the UFC and is averse to letting his fights hit the ground. Cutelaba won just two fights by tapping out his opponent. His last submission win came in 2015. Also, he has an 80% takedown defense in the UFC. 

UFC Fight Night Prediction

Cutelaba may not have to work on blocking takedowns as Ankalaev has landed just two in four UFC fights. The Russian fighter does not hold a single submission win on his record.

Read: UFC Fight Night 169: Magomed Ankalaev Secures a Controversial Finish Against Ion Cutelaba

Ankalaev lands 3.46 significant strikes per minute with an accuracy of 56%. The accuracy trumps his opponent’s striking success rate of 39%, but ‘The Hulk’ lands 5.29 significant strikes per minute.

Cutelaba’s all-out attack style sees him absorb 3.26 strikes, and he only deflects 48% of his opponent’s blows. 

As Ankalaev aims to be the clinical fighter and not throw punches for the sake of it, he will be sharp on his feet. The Russian avoided a whopping 67% of his opponents’ attacks and absorbed a paltry 1.24 significant strikes.

Read: UFC Fight Night: Smith vs Rakic Prediction – Anthony Smith vs Aleksandar Rakic

As per the UFC statistics, the thirteenth ranked light heavyweight will have to be on his toes and hope Cutelaba misses a step, thus providing him an opening to land a fight-ending blow. 

Another way to look at it is Cutelaba will be the busier fighter and will relentlessly pressurize his opponent. He will aim to deliver one strike that unsettles his opponent. Here he can hope to nullify his opponent’s 85% takedown defense and use his 71% takedown accuracy to set up the ground-and-pound. 

Prediction: Ion Cutelaba to win via 1st round TKO