Tag: UFC Vegas 84

Johnny Walker Releases Statement Following Brutal KO Loss to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC Vegas 84

Johnny Walker talks Magomed AnkalaevJohnny Walker released a statement following his devastating second-round knockout loss to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC Vegas 84. Walker…

Johnny Walker talks Magomed Ankalaev

Johnny Walker released a statement following his devastating second-round knockout loss to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC Vegas 84.

Walker came out fast and furious in the opening round, looking to put Ankalaev on his back foot and throw off the Russian contender with his signature wild style of striking. However, things took a drastic turn in the second with Ankalaev controlling the cage as Walker’s attacks were few and far between.

Stuck in an endless loop of circling to his left, Walker moved in quickly, but it was Ankalaev who landed a brutal looping right hand that sent the Brazilian crashing to the canvas. Ankalaev followed it up with a nose-shattering shot that forced the referee to step in with just over two minutes left in the round.

Johnny Walker Congratulates His Opponent

Taking to social media, Walker addressed his brutal defeat by congratulating his opponent and promising to come back even better.

“Win or learn, right, coach!” the video caption read. “Fighting the best in the world, one little mistake cost the win. You don’t make me so you can’t break me, you didn’t build me so you can’t kill me! Let’s keep climbing.

“I’m good, just a little scratch on my nose,” Walker said in the video, with his wife by his side. “I going to watch my fight, I wanna see what mistakes I did a little later on and I’m gonna put on my YouTube channel here the recalculations to see what I did wrong and talk more about the fight.

“It is what it is, we fight the best in the world,” Walker continued. “I’m one of the best in the world, they’re gonna face the best in the world. Could be me, could be him. So he had a better night than me, congratulations to him, Magomed Ankalaev. I hope he get the belt now. And I’m gonna keep grinding, keep grinding and going for wars, going upward. Thanks everyone for the sport and I’m gonna take a few days off then come back to the gym, come back better” (h/t MMA Mania).

The loss to Ankalaev snapped Walker’s three-fight win streak which included highlight-reel-worthy victories over Ion Cutelaba, Paul Craig, and Anthony ‘Lionheart’ Smith. Despite the loss, Walker’s performance was still strong enough to bump him up one spot to No. 7 on the light heavyweight rankings. Ankalaev remains at No. 3, sitting firmly behind former champions Jamahal Hill and Jiri Prochazka.

Magomed Ankalaev calls for UFC 300 title fight with Alex Pereira: ‘i’m ready, I’m just waiting on the message’

Magomed Ankalaev calls for UFC 300 title fight with Alex Pereira I'm ready I'm just waitingFollowing last night’s brutal knockout win over contender, Johnny Walker in their UFC Vegas 84 rematch, former vacant title…

Magomed Ankalaev calls for UFC 300 title fight with Alex Pereira I'm ready I'm just waiting

Following last night’s brutal knockout win over contender, Johnny Walker in their UFC Vegas 84 rematch, former vacant title challenger, Magomed Ankalaev has sights on a quickfire turnaround at UFC 300 in April – offering to fight Alex Pereira in a main event clash for the 205 pound crown.

Headlining last night’s first card of the year for the Dana White-led promotion, Russian contender, Ankalaev turned in a masterful striking display against Straight Blast Gym staple, Walker, stopping the Brazilian with a heavy second round knockout in the pair’s rematch following an initial ‘No Contest’ clash between the two back in October of last year.

Magomed Ankalaev eyes UFC 300 clash with Alex Pereira

And firmly inserting himself into championship contender talk with last night’s statement knockout win over Walker, Ankalaev claimed he was “ready” to headline UFC 300 against Sao Paulo finisher, Pereira, in his second bid to become light heavyweight kingpin.

“Of course I’m ready,” Magomed Ankalaev told assembled media after UFC Vegas 84. “I’m just waiting for the message that I’m going in.”

And vowing to stand toe-to-toe with Pereira if he lands a title fight with the ex-middleweight champion at UFC 300, Ankalaev urged the Brazilian’s coaches to forget about a wrestling and grappling-intense training camp.

“I wanted to stand up, and I wanted to knock him [Johnny Walker] out,” Magomed Ankalaev explained. “And that’s what I did. Now, for Glover Teixeira, I have a message. Don’t waste your time trying to teach your student to wrestle or grapple. He’s not going to need it. I’m gonna come out there; I’m gonna stand across from him. And I know that he’s been knocked out before as a middleweight. So, imagine what’s going to happen if I meet him at light heavyweight. Trust me, he’s not going to feel comfortable there.”

Who wins in a potential UFC 300 clash: Magomed Ankalaev or Alex Pereira?

Magomed Ankalaev calls for UFC 300 title fight with Alex Pereira: ‘i’m ready, I’m just waiting on the message’

Magomed Ankalaev calls for UFC 300 title fight with Alex Pereira I'm ready I'm just waitingFollowing last night’s brutal knockout win over contender, Johnny Walker in their UFC Vegas 84 rematch, former vacant title…

Magomed Ankalaev calls for UFC 300 title fight with Alex Pereira I'm ready I'm just waiting

Following last night’s brutal knockout win over contender, Johnny Walker in their UFC Vegas 84 rematch, former vacant title challenger, Magomed Ankalaev has sights on a quickfire turnaround at UFC 300 in April – offering to fight Alex Pereira in a main event clash for the 205 pound crown.

Headlining last night’s first card of the year for the Dana White-led promotion, Russian contender, Ankalaev turned in a masterful striking display against Straight Blast Gym staple, Walker, stopping the Brazilian with a heavy second round knockout in the pair’s rematch following an initial ‘No Contest’ clash between the two back in October of last year.

Magomed Ankalaev eyes UFC 300 clash with Alex Pereira

And firmly inserting himself into championship contender talk with last night’s statement knockout win over Walker, Ankalaev claimed he was “ready” to headline UFC 300 against Sao Paulo finisher, Pereira, in his second bid to become light heavyweight kingpin.

“Of course I’m ready,” Magomed Ankalaev told assembled media after UFC Vegas 84. “I’m just waiting for the message that I’m going in.”

And vowing to stand toe-to-toe with Pereira if he lands a title fight with the ex-middleweight champion at UFC 300, Ankalaev urged the Brazilian’s coaches to forget about a wrestling and grappling-intense training camp.

“I wanted to stand up, and I wanted to knock him [Johnny Walker] out,” Magomed Ankalaev explained. “And that’s what I did. Now, for Glover Teixeira, I have a message. Don’t waste your time trying to teach your student to wrestle or grapple. He’s not going to need it. I’m gonna come out there; I’m gonna stand across from him. And I know that he’s been knocked out before as a middleweight. So, imagine what’s going to happen if I meet him at light heavyweight. Trust me, he’s not going to feel comfortable there.”

Who wins in a potential UFC 300 clash: Magomed Ankalaev or Alex Pereira?

Paul Felder open to UFC 300 return fight with Jim Miller: ‘I’m leaning towards wanting to do it’

Paul Felder weighs up UFC 300 fight with Jim MIller I'm leaning toward doing itContinuing in his record-setting ways last night at UFC Vegas 84, veteran lightweight fan-favorite, Jim Miller may have a…

Paul Felder weighs up UFC 300 fight with Jim MIller I'm leaning toward doing it

Continuing in his record-setting ways last night at UFC Vegas 84, veteran lightweight fan-favorite, Jim Miller may have a willing dance partner available to him as he targets a quickfire turnaround at UFC 300 in April – in the form of color-commentator and former lightweight challenger, Paul Felder.

Miller, who landed his twenty-sixth and most victories in the history of the Octagon last night, did so in spectacular fashion against Gabriel Benitez, landing a stunning third round rear-naked choke win in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 84.

Paul Felder weighs up Jim Miller clash at UFC 300

And linked with a potential UFC 300 landing in April following appearances on the flagship 200 card back in 2016, and the 100 event back in 2009, Jim Miller has been met with an offer to share the Octagon by Felder – whom himself is weighing up a return from a 2020 retirement from active competition.

“And that’s why it’s so, so tough, right?” Paul Felder told assembled media after UFC Vegas 84. “And so tempting. And, you know, [I’m] leaning towards wanting to do it because it’s Jim (Miller), and he wants to be called at UFC 300, Jim ‘F*cking’ MIller.”

“I mean, he’s awesome,” Paul Felder explained. “He fights awesome. Especially, I get to see that fight right in front of my eyes, right where it’s a leg kick battle. It’s a stand-up battle primarily, obviously finish them on the ground, as Jim can do. But I mean, if it’s going to be a fight like that, then I think the fans would eat it up because, you know, I’m not shooting any takedowns in there, especially against Jim.”

Turning in five victories in his six most recent Octagon walks, New Jersey native, Miller added Benitez to recent triumphs against the likes of Erick Gonzalez, Nikolas Motta, and a submission success against former lightweight title challenger and Hall of Fame inductee, Donald Cerrone.

Who wins in a future UFC 300 pairing: Paul Felder or Jim Miller?

Magomed Ankalaev Smashes Johnny Walker with Vicious Right Hook in Round Two – UFC Vegas 84 Highlights

Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker at UFC Vegas 84Magomed Ankalaev earned his 10th victory inside the Octagon, dispatching Johnny Walker in the second round of their UFC…

Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker at UFC Vegas 84

Magomed Ankalaev earned his 10th victory inside the Octagon, dispatching Johnny Walker in the second round of their UFC Vegas 84 headliner.

Walker came out fast and furious in the opening round, walking down Ankalaev and showing him little respect, but it didn’t take long for the Dagestani to slow the pace and begin chipping away at his overly aggressive opponent.

Walker was much more hesitant to throw in the second round, allowing Ankalaev to take control of the action. With just over two minutes to go in the round, Walker moved in looking for a low kick. Ankalaev immediately made him pay, landing a big right hook that knocked Walker against the fence and down to the canvas. Ankalaev moved in and landed an absolutely vicious follow-up right that appeared to instantly break Walker’s nose.

That was enough for the referee to rush in and call for the stoppage, saving Walker from any further damage.

Official Result: Magomed Ankalaev def. Johnny Walker via KO (right hook) at 2:42 of Round 2.

Check Out Highlights From Johnny Walker vs. Magomed Ankalaev at UFC Vegas 84:

Jim Miller Scores Slick third-Round Neck Crank Submission over Gabriel Benítez – UFC Vegas 84 highlights

Jim Miller submits Gabriel Benitez at UFC Vegas 84Jim Miller earned his 26th career victory inside the Octagon in the UFC Vegas 84 co-main event on Saturday…

Jim Miller submits Gabriel Benitez at UFC Vegas 84

Jim Miller earned his 26th career victory inside the Octagon in the UFC Vegas 84 co-main event on Saturday night.

Determined to feature on April’s highly anticipated UFC 300 card in Las Vegas, ‘A-10’ knew he needed to step into The APEX and score another noteworthy win in his already legendary MMA career. He did exactly that, scoring an impressive third-round submission victory against Gabriel Benítez.

Miller delivered a striking masterclass, putting his boxing on display while simultaneously battering the lead leg of Benítez. With his opponent becoming increasingly immobile due to the damage, ‘A-10’ opted to take things to the mat in the third round. With only minutes remaining in the contest, it appeared as though we were headed to a unanimous decision that would be undoubtedly in favor of Miller.

However, Miller had no intention of letting Benítez off the hook that easy. With less than two minutes to go, the New Jersey native locked in a neck crank, forcing his opponent to tap out.

Official Result: Jim Miller def. Gabriel Benítez via submission (neck crank) at 3:25 of Round 3.

Check Out Highlights From Jim Miller vs. Gabriel Benítez at UFC Vegas 84: