UFC Fight Night 175 tournament match
This weekend, Saturday night, the world’s No. 1 promotion will host its fifth consecutive tournament at UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The UFC Fight Night 175 card features several named fighters, including a former promotional champion and an ex-title contender.
update. The fight has been canceled due to the coronavirus. Kutselaba has been diagnosed with COVID-19 again.
From the third attempt, the UFC hopes to hold an intriguing rematch between the Dagestan light heavyweight Ankalaev and his Moldovan colleague Kutselaba.
In February at UFC Fight Night 169, their first fight ended in a very controversial stoppage 38 seconds into the fight, with the referee awarding Ankalaev the win. An attempt to rematch in April at UFC 249 fell through due to the cancellation of the show due to the pandemic. The rematch was rescheduled for August 15 at UFC 252, however, Kutselaba tested positive for COVID-19.
Before the first fight, Ankalaev went on a series of three victories, two of which were by knockout. And Kutselaba won three (all by knockout) of four previous fights.
Prediction for the fight
As the first fight showed, Ankalaev is not one to wither under the pressure that Kutselaba can certainly exert. And each of the Hulk’s wins in the UFC came against an opponent he was able to overwhelm with his aggression.
Ankalaev landed several powerful and sharp punches in the first fight, and at the same time he has an advantage in grappling. Kutselaba is always dangerous in the standing position, it’s just that his skills don’t seem to be enough to defeat Ankalaev. Plus, we don’t know how Kutselaba recovered from COVID-19.
Ankalaev’s victory on points
Main card
Anthony Smith – Alexander Rakic
Robbie Lawler – Neil Magny
Kim Ji Yong – Alexa Grasso
Ricardo Lamas – Bill Algeo
Magomed Ankalaev – Ion Kutselaba
preliminary card
Maki Pitolo – Impa Kasanganai
Mallory Martin – Hannah Cifers
Alessio Di Chirico – Zach Cummings
Glade Viana – Emily Whitmire
Sean Brady – Christian Aguilera
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