Magomed Ankalaev was victorious in his first UFC main event, but it won’t be a fight people will be rushing to watch a second time.
Ankalaev defeated Thiago Santos via unanimous decision in the headliner of UFC Vegas 50 on Saturday at the APEX. It was a slow-paced fight throughout, with both competitors seemingly fighting with the sole purpose of countering the other. In the end, Ankalaev was able to do just enough to edge out more rounds to pick up his eighth straight victory.
Check out how pros reacted to the light heavyweight bout, along with the rest of a main card that absolutely delivered.
Magomed Ankalaev def. Thiago Santos
Who wants it more @ufc fight comes down to this round in my opinion @TMarretaMMA #UFCVegas50 #HammerTime
— Charles Rosa (@CharlesRosaMMA) March 13, 2022
Ankalaev’s backwards speed has just been too fast for Santos. #UFCVegas50
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) March 13, 2022
Tell the men in the booth that I have been reading their tweets, if you want them to help me break down this fight more precisely. @espnmma
— Lando Vannata (@GroovyLando) March 13, 2022
Test Ankalaev’s for cement, his head is made of stone #UFCVegas50
— Chris Leben (@ChrisLebenMMA) March 13, 2022
There’s a lot to it.
— Dominick Reyes (@DomReyes) March 13, 2022
You know you’re a badass when you have a hammer tattooed on your chest
— Chris Leben (@ChrisLebenMMA) March 13, 2022
Song Yadong def. Marlon Moraes
Uppercut is the way to go!
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) March 13, 2022
Song Yadong is a big problem for bantamweight division
#UFCVegas50— Diana Belbita (@DianaBelbita) March 13, 2022
That right hand is nasty asf
— Jamahal Hill (@JamahalH) March 13, 2022
Yadong is a killer! Future contender at 135 #UFCVegas50
— Jeff Molina (@jmolina_125) March 13, 2022
Ding Dong, Who’s there? SONG YA F’N DONG! This dude a problem. Only 24 years old?!?! Watch out bantamweights! #UFCVegas50
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) March 13, 2022
Tough break man. Moraes is my friend. It’s not a lack of skill. If your chin can’t hold up against “bangers”, when you’re a banger, there’s only 1 result. Nothing away from Yadong, the kid is good! Powerful, quick, explosive! #UFCVegas50
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) March 13, 2022
Beautiful punching by @SongYadongLFG
— Cody Stamann (@CodyStamann) March 13, 2022
I hear you wanna fight Dominick Cruz @SongYaDongMMA? Interesting matchup. Be sure to pack the cigarettes and beer! . #DominickSnooze #ThanksKeithPeterson #UFCVegas50
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) March 13, 2022
Sodiq Yusuff def. Alex Caceres
1-1 ??? #UFCVegas50
— Sean BRADY (@seanbradymma) March 13, 2022
Holes everywhere
— Lerone Murphy (@LeroneMurphy) March 13, 2022
Sodiq vs Barboza next.
Bryce fighting up in the Rankings.
— Matt Weibel (@matt_frm) March 13, 2022
Khalil Rountree def. Karl Roberson
Khalil may be the most mean-spirited guy you will ever meet. #UFCVegas50
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) March 13, 2022
2nd Round came out like he got owed money. Dang! #UFCVegas50 @ufc
— Julia Avila (@RagingPandaMMA) March 13, 2022
Wow
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) March 13, 2022
Khalil is an animal #UFCVegas50
— Niko Price (@Nikohybridprice) March 13, 2022
That was nasty #UFCVegas50
— Kyler Phillips (@Kymatrix) March 13, 2022
Rountree hits different
— Eryk Anders (@erykanders) March 13, 2022
Rountree is the real deal! #UFCVegas50 @ufc
— BriannaTheBull (@briannathebull) March 13, 2022
Drew Dober def. Terrance McKinney
ROUND. OF. THE. YEAR. Remember the name @twrecks155, he’ll be back! #UFCVegas50
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) March 13, 2022
I went through so many emotions in that 1 round wow #UFCVegas50
— Vince Morales (@vandetta135) March 13, 2022
Dang!!! I thought my boy @twrecks155 had it done AGAIN! But hats off to @DrewDober for weathering that storm and coming back. That’s the fight game..#UFCVegas50
— Corey ‘Overtime’ Anderson (@CoreyA_MMA) March 13, 2022
Cruz wasn’t happy about that stoppage
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) March 13, 2022
OMGGGGG HOW A FIGHT! #UFCVegas50
— Jeff Molina (@jmolina_125) March 13, 2022
What a fight between @DrewDober and @twrecks155 . It happens sometimes when you hurry but it is amazing! #UFCVegas50
— Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili (@MerabDvalishvil) March 13, 2022
Wtf?! It was amazing. This sport is wild man #UFCVegas50
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) March 13, 2022
OMG #UFCVegas50
— Max Griffin (@MaxPainGriffin) March 13, 2022
Alex Pereira def. Bruno Silva
The way Pereira throws his hooks, some of the nastiest in the game! #UFCVegas50
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) March 13, 2022
I think Izzy will be fine
— Chris Leben (@ChrisLebenMMA) March 13, 2022
What a fight!!! They left it all in the octagon! #UFCVegas50
— Cody Durden (@Cody_Durden) March 13, 2022
Omg! I was on the edge my seat during that last round! Petit vs Silva thank you for the show. @ufc #UFCVegas50
— Julia Avila (@RagingPandaMMA) March 13, 2022
Ohh he’s getting better Alex continues growing and I see him contending in 3-4 fights
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) March 13, 2022
Great fight! #UFCVegas50
— Tatiana Suarez (@tatianaufc) March 13, 2022
Que luta meus amigos! Ja respeitava esses monstros, agora entao
Boss @danawhite , 50K pra eles @AlexPoatan e Bruno “Blindado”#MarretaNoCombate @AnaHissa @RhoodesLima @canalCombate
— Ariane “Sorriso” Carnelossi (@ArianeSorrisoo) March 13, 2022
Nice win for Alex Pereira #UFCVegas50
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) March 13, 2022
Bruno Silva just gave Alex Pereira the MMA experience he needed. Still a lot to learn before Pereira could be a challenge for Israel Adesanya, but the world class striking is there! #UFCVegas50
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) March 13, 2022
