Magomed Ankalaev stumbled in his attempt to defend Dagestan’s honor today, falling short against former champion Alex Pereira in the Octagon. After a series of lukewarm cards, the UFC reignited the spark at Nevada’s T-Mobile Arena, delivering a night full of high-voltage action. The early prelims teased the crowd, but four fighters stole the show on the preliminary card with thunderous knockouts, building anticipation for the co-main event between Merab Dvalishvili and Cory Sandhagen, which ended with a decision victory.

Still, the night’s title headliner ultimately lit up the arena, delivering exactly what fans had come to see. Dagestan had been riding high this week, buoyed by Usman Nurmagomedov’s win, which reinforced the region’s iron grip on MMA. However, in just a few hours, Ankalaev shattered that narrative, shaking the perception of Dagestan’s invincibility. Now, fans and analysts face a crossroads, questioning the next move in the Russian contender’s journey.

what’s next for Magomed Ankalaev?

Even Michael Bisping and Chael Sonnen—and not even Daniel Cormier—could have predicted how quickly Magomed Ankalaev’s reign would crumble in just eight months. Ankalaev, who patiently climbed the ranks for years to earn his title shot against Alex Pereira earlier this year at UFC 313, fought through 14 bouts with little promotional spotlight. However, in the rematch today at UFC 320, the Brazilian tore through Ankalaev in the opening round, leaving fans stunned as Magomed Ankalaev entered the bout as the fan favorite.

With the loss and Ankalaev’s limited marketability, UFC matchmakers may need to recalibrate his path in the division. Looking ahead, the promotion could pair him with the No. 4 contender, Khalil Rountree Jr., who also fell by knockout at UFC 320 against Jiri Prochazka, or the No. 6 contender, Jamahal Hill.

Hill, a former champion, had already thrown down the gauntlet to the Dagestani powerhouse months earlier when Ankalaev wrote on social media: “Guys is there anyone in the Light Heavyweight division who’s willing to fight me? Because Jiri and Alex do not want to fight.” Hill fired back with characteristic bravado: “After I handle business June 21st I’ll emancipate these hands on Abe Lincoln’s double!!!” Yet, the former titleholder now finds himself on a three-fight losing skid, most recently falling to Khalil Rountree at UFC Azerbaijan in June.

As a result, both fighters have faltered, making a matchup between them unlikely at this point. Ultimately, Dana White and the UFC matchmakers hold the keys to Ankalaev’s next chapter. Still, the flicker of a possible Alex Pereira trilogy lingers like a storm cloud on the horizon—unpredictable, but impossible to ignore.

Khabib Nurmagomedov applauds Ankalaev’s skills

Magomed Ankalaev has always danced to his own rhythm, rising above the crowd of Dagestani fighters. While many of his “brothers” rely on wrestling and Sambo as their calling cards, Ankalaev strikes with the precision of a surgeon and the force of a hurricane. Over nearly seven years in the UFC, he has faced a spectrum of opponents—from battle-hardened veterans to peers his own age—crafting a 21-1-1 (1 NC) record and earning nods from MMA legends, including Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Even in retirement, Khabib remains a sentinel over the Dagestani MMA scene, shaping the next wave through fighters like Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov. At 33, Ankalaev stands as one of only two Russian champions dominating the UFC, alongside the unstoppable Khamzat Chimaev. Russia’s rise in combat sports over the past decade has been meteoric, and Khabib Nurmagomedov was at the forefront of this surge. Revered as the greatest Russian UFC fighter of all time. Since leaving the octagon in 2020, Khabib has forged a new legacy as a coach, guiding fighters with the same mastery that made him a legend.

Ahead of Ankalaev’s fight against the Alex Pereira, Nurmagomedov praised his fellow countryman, claiming he is one of the greatest Russian fighters ever. “He is one of the best to ever do it in Russia, already, and he keeps improving himself and keeps climbing on top to be the best to ever do it. I really believe he has the skills (to become the best Russian fighter ever),” ‘the Eagle’ admitted.

Where do you place Ankalaev in the hierarchy of MMA? Could he surpass Islam Makhachev or even Khabib Nurmagomedov in the debate over Russia’s greatest fighters? Share your thoughts below.