Jump to
Listen to the MMA Vivisection now
UFC Johnny Walker vs. Magomed Ankalaev 2 preview
After an entire month away, the UFC is back to the old grindstone, and trust me, the Apex is the old grindstone these days. And what do we get for all these long nights we waited for your return? A rematch nobody ever asked for that a whole bunch of people seem to not care much about.
If we go back in our memory palaces, we will recall that the first contest between Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker didn’t go quite the way anybody had hoped. It was back at UFC 294 this past October when Ankalaev threw an illegal knee and after the ringside physician was called in to assess Walker, he determined that the Brazilian contender wouldn’t be able to continue.
At the time, Johnny, along with a lot of fans and media, felt the stoppage wasn’t warranted but who knew that the rematch would end up being the first main event of 2024. The fight is between two ranked opponents. It’s important in the pantheon of light heavyweight fights, at least.
But nobody was clamoring to see this bout. The UFC could have moseyed on along and never bothered and it’s doubtful anyone would be the wiser.
UFC Vegas 84 main card
There are other worthwhile fights on the UFC Vegas 84 card, and there are six ranked fighters, so perhaps we’re being a little harsh. Let’s take a look at the main card:
- Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker 205 lbs
- Matheus Nicolau vs. Manel Kape 125 lbs
- Jim Miller vs. Gabriel Benítez 155 lbs
- Ricky Simón vs. Mario Bautista 135 lbs
- Phil Hawes vs. Brunno Ferreira 185 lbs
Matheus Nicolau and Manel Kape is also a rematch, although a much more welcome one. Their first fight ended in a split decision and plenty of time has gone by for both men to have gained a wealth of experience. With the excitement factor both bring to the table, it’s hard to imagine this fight being anything other than exciting.
And at the age of 40, New Jersey native Jim Miller is still winning after 42 fights inside the UFC octagon. He holds the record for most fights and most wins inside the promotion. He’s the grizzled veteran that they send the fresh talent to, and more often than not, they get sorted out with 4oz of leather.
Don’t forget to check out the bonus section for a great review of the UFC 296 main card. Make sure to tune in immediately after this weekend’s fights for breakdowns and analysis on our 6th Round Post-Fight Show.
Thank you for reading this article and listening to the podcast. Please consider subscribing to the Bloody Elbow Substack to enjoy our daily premium content. Your paid subscriptions are helping build our new site and keeping hope alive that our staff will remain intact. If you haven’t already, please pledge with a paid subscription today. If you have, please share this post far and wide.
You know you can count on us for quick, consistent quality UFC and MMA coverage. Bloody Elbow is an independent, reader supported publication. Please subscribe to our newsletter to keep up with our best work and learn how you can support the site.
Join the new Bloody Elbow
Our Substack is where we feature the work of writers like Zach Arnold, John Nash and Karim Zidan. We’re fighting for the sport, the fighters and the fans. Please help us by subscribing today.
About the author
