UFC 320 returns to Las Vegas, the combat sport “fight capital.” Fans have every reason to be on edge as the reigning light heavyweight champion, Magomed Ankalaev, the third Dagestani fighter after Khabib and Islam Makhachev to claim a UFC title, makes his return. He will defend his belt in a rematch against former champ Alex Pereira. At UFC 313, Ankalaev narrowly defeated Pereira via decision inside the T-Mobile Arena.

This time, at the same venue, Ankalaev will aim to cement his victory so as to leave no doubt. The Russian powerhouse has crafted a sharper, more lethal strategy to finish Alex Pereira decisively and settle the UFC 313 controversy once and for all. With the fight just days away, Magomed Ankalaev has issued a warning to the MMA world about the rising wave of Dagestani talent, with fellow stars, including Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov, firmly backing them.

Khabib backs Magomed Ankalaev in UFC comeback

UFC just dropped the full UFC 320 countdown episode on YouTube, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at fighters’ lives. In addition, the episode highlights Magomed Ankalaev’s life in Dagestan, Russia. Talking about his roots, Ankalaev said, “Dagestan is a place with many athletes and a lot of competition.” He went on to describe the hard work and discipline evident in the people from the region, showing off a typical morning where kids hit the gym early and adults train intensely in the evenings. Reflecting on his own upbringing, Ankalaev added, “We have strict upbringings… For this reason, the fighters who come from here always stand out. Somewhere in the future, there will always be a champion from Dagestan fighting in the UFC.”

The countdown video also featured short interviews with Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov, who crossed paths with Magomed Ankalaev at Eagle FC MMA. ‘The Eagle’ hosted the event and expressed his excitement as he watched Dagestani fighters mark their beginning in MMA.

Sitting on the sidelines of the event, Khabib said, “We’re just beginning. Can you imagine? After 10 years, we’ll realize how good we are on the MMA map of the world. It’s going to be very hard to stop this invasion.”

Similarly, Islam Makhachev added, “We never sit together, like three UFC champions in the arena in Dagestan. You know, I’m really happy to be here and to see all these people.” Outside of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s circle, however, Ankalaev shines as Dagestan’s brightest star in UFC history. The 33-year-old holds the distinction of being the only UFC champion from the region to win a title outright, unlike ‘The Eagle’ and Makhachev, who competed for vacated belts.

Even without training under ‘Team Khabib’, Khabib Nurmagomedov praised Magomed Ankalaev: “He is already one of the best to ever do it in Russia, and he keeps improving himself. He keeps climbing to the top to be the best to ever do this.”

UFC veteran puts Magomed Ankalaev in better position than Islam Makhachev two years ago

Dagestani fighters have quietly dominated the MMA world. Today, the region has become a powerhouse, producing a new generation of elite fighters—a movement that began with Khabib Nurmagomedov. Since then, ‘the Eagle’s proteges, including Umar, Usman Nurmagomedov, and Islam Makhachev, have made waves across promotions worldwide, from Russia to the Middle East, the U.S., and beyond. Every Dagestani fighter stands out, often ending fights decisively on the ground with their superior wrestling. Magomed Ankalaev, however, is an anomaly in this regard.

Unlike many of his fellow Dagestani fighters, he prefers to fight on his feet. While the trio shares a reputation for staying out of controversy, Chael Sonnen argues that Ankalaev doesn’t entirely fit this narrative. The 33-year-old has been openly trolling legends like Jon Jones and has shown interest in fighting Tom Aspinall, according to his recent tweets on X. Sonnen sees this as a smart strategy to remain relevant once a fighter becomes champion. On Instagram, he pointed out that Ankalaev is in a stronger position than Islam Makhachev. Sonnen said:

“Ankalaev knows what time it is. And so many guys don’t. So many guys do not understand the need to draw the attention and the curiosity of the audience.”

In a sport where hype and entertainment are crucial, staying in the news can make all the difference. Sonnen further compared Ankalaev’s approach to Islam Makhachev’s, adding, “They don’t even understand it. I do my talking in the ring. That’s the word of no star ever. But it’s a word of a lot of the guys. Islam Makhachev was in a worse spot, perception-wise, two years ago than Ankalaev is right now. He’s a massive star.”

Looking ahead, how do you see Magomed Ankalaev’s trajectory in the UFC? Can the Dagestani star defend his title for an extended period? Share your thoughts below.