UFC Vegas 84 preview: ‘Ankalaev vs. Walker 2’ predictions

Annnnnd we’re BACK!

Final Combating Championship (UFC) is simply someday away from the upcoming UFC Vegas 84 blended martial arts (MMA) occasion, which is about to go down tomorrow night time (Sat., Jan. 13, 2024) on ESPN+ from contained in the promotion’s APEX facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, that includes a light-weight heavyweight predominant occasion — and UFC 294 rematch — between Prime 10 title hopefuls Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker, a five-round headliner with main title implications for early 2024 and past.

Earlier than we dive into the primary and co-main occasion, which incorporates the 125-pound scrap (and UFC Vegas 21 rematch) between flyweight bruisers Matheus Nicolau and Manel Kape, take a look at Patrick Stumberg’s breakdowns for the UFC Vegas 84 preliminary card by clicking right here and right here. For the newest “Ankalaev vs. Walker 2” odds and betting props courtesy of our fiscal buddies over at DraftKings go right here. For the remainder of the UFC Vegas 84 predominant card predictions click on right here.

205 lbs.: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker

Magomed Ankalaev

Johnny Walker

After a wonky first-round “No Contest” at UFC 294, we’re going to attempt to determine this one out as soon as and for all…

Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker are fully completely different fighters, stylistically talking, however their UFC trajectories have been eerily related after making their respective debuts in 2018. Ankalaev stumbled out of the gate, getting submitted by Paul Craig at UFC London earlier than rattling off 5 straight wins, three of which scored the Russian striker $50,000 efficiency bonuses. Then his subsequent 5 bouts resulted in three forgettable selections and one butt-ugly draw reverse former 205-pound titleholder Jan Blachowicz, a battle so unhealthy it precipitated UFC CEO Dana White to “zone out” someplace in spherical three. What occurred to the bonus-winning bruiser that had gentle heavyweights operating for canopy? Maybe it was the step up in competitors or possibly Ankalaev was struggling to remain dialed in. Both approach, he went from a being a lock for the subsequent 205-pound title shot to preventing a hot-and-cold opponent ranked 4 spots beneath him within the official gentle heavyweight rankings.

“I’m not on the lookout for simply coming on the market and having my hand raised on the finish of the battle,” Ankalaev stated on the UFC Vegas 84 media day (watch it right here). “What I need to do is I need to guarantee that I get there, I make an announcement and the battle goes to be over approach earlier than the ultimate bell. I imagine that 2024 is my yr, and by the tip of this yr, you’ll see that the strap is round my waist. Because the managers are telling me, it’s mainly if I win this battle, there’s no one else who deserves the title run greater than I do.”

Like Ankalaev, the 31 year-old Walker jumped out to a red-hot begin, bagging three straight wins and three straight efficiency bonuses. His spotlight reel was spectacular sufficient to maintain then-champion Jon Jones trying over his shoulder. Then got here a brutal knockout loss to Corey Anderson, adopted by a few stinkers reverse Nikita Krylov and Thiago Santos. Getting stopped by Jamahal Hill did extra than simply remove him from the 205-pound title chase, it additionally modified his type of preventing — which some could argue was for the more serious — however you may’t argue with the outcomes. After his “Candy Desires” nap, the Brazilian is 3-0 with two finishes and again within the division Prime 10, although I don’t suppose anybody might be nominating his Anthony Smith battle for the UFC corridor of fame.

“We all know his sample and what he likes to do, so we simulate these for a lot of months, many weeks whereas sparring,” Walker stated on the UFC Vegas 84 media day (watch it right here). “I’m prepared for no matter he tries to do, if he takes me down, if he tries putting. I do know his sample and what he’s going to attempt to use towards me. Nothing has modified a lot. Simply put together for the worst. I’m prepared. Possibly I’ll put him down since you by no means noticed him when he again is on the ground, his conduct. I’m fairly positive if any of my good pictures land, he’s going to sleep. If I get his again, I’m going to make him sleep, too. I’m going to choke him. I at all times attempt to push and get the perfect of myself and to complete the battle as properly. I don’t just like the judges deciding the battle for me and an excessive amount of exhausting work for somebody to possibly make a improper determination. I need to make certain I’ve the battle in my palms so I’m going to do my greatest to complete the battle.”

Walker now fights like Ankalaev: measured, affected person, technical … however the Russian does it higher, which is why the Brazilian must channel the Johnny Walker of 2019, full with spinning again fists, leaping knees, flying elbows; something and every part to maintain Ankalaev off rhythm and scrambling to regulate. If not, Ankalaev will out-strike him from bell-to-bell, take him down at will, and beat him up on the bottom. Until Ankalaev has suffered a mid-career collapse, it’s exhausting to select towards him. Exterior of the peak and attain, he’s the superior fighter in nearly each class.

Prediction: Ankalaev def. Walker by technical knockout

125 lbs.: Matheus Nicolau vs. Manel Kape

Matheus Nicolau

Manel “Starboy” Kape

File: 19-6 | Age: 30 | Betting line: -270Wins: 11 KO/TKO, 5 SUB, 3 DEC | Losses: 0 KO/TKO, 2 SUB, 4 DECHeight: 5’5“ | Attain: 68” | Stance: SouthpawSignificant Strikes Landed Per Minute: 5.12 | Hanging accuracy: 54percentStrikes Absorbed Per Minute: 4.51 | Hanging Protection: 59percentTakedown Common: 0.65 (37% accuracy) | Takedown Protection: 77percentCurrent Rating: No. 6 | Final battle: Unanimous determination win over Felipe dos Santos

Just like the UFC Vegas 84 predominant occasion between Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker, this weekend’s co-headliner can be a rematch between two hungry title contenders. Matheus Nicolau and Manel Kape first went to warfare at UFC Vegas 21 again in early 2021, with the Brazilian capturing an in depth break up determination victory. On the time, the betting line opened at -115 apiece and regardless of Nicolau’s victory, “Starboy” is now a large betting favourite for his or her 125-pound rematch. I might assume these numbers are based mostly on Kape’s current run, which garnered 4 straight wins — two by first-round knockout — whereas Nicolau is coming off a brutal knockout loss to Brandon Royval at UFC Kansas Metropolis final April. Personally, I don’t suppose his misstep towards “Uncooked Canine” (such a dreadful nickname) negates the success that got here earlier than it. Nicolau is 6-1 courting again to 2018, which incorporates his second-round knockout win over Matt Schnell at UFC Orlando roughly one yr again.

“We at all times attempt to deliver some new issues,” Nicolau stated on the UFC Vegas 84 media day (watch it right here). “I’m at all times coaching rather a lot, since my final battle to start with of final yr I had a very long time to coach. Thank God I had no accidents, so I may focus rather a lot on coaching. That was my No. 1 focus ever, to coach to get higher. So for positive I’ll attempt to deliver one thing new, and I additionally need to make the weapons that I have already got even higher, even sharper. I’m prepared for the exhausting quarter-hour. This can be a high-level matchup so you must be able to battle a really exhausting quarter-hour, however I feel the core of the martial arts is to complete the battle, so I’ll preserve that in thoughts, however I’m in no rush to try this. I simply need to preserve centered and do my greatest efficiency I’ve ever carried out contained in the Octagon.”

Kape is lastly beginning to appear to be the fighter UFC thought it had when it signed him from Rizin again in early 2021. “Starboy” has but to crack the Prime 5 at 125 kilos, principally due to the tough begin he had firstly of his UFC profession, however Kape stays a harmful puncher with fast, explosive palms. Little doubt these weapons have Nicolau followers frightened, contemplating what occurred towards Royval. The query I’ve heading into this battle is whether or not or not Kape can right the errors he made towards the Brazilian of their first battle. If “Starboy” wastes an excessive amount of time ready for his opening, Nicolau may steal one other determination on the judges’ scorecards. With a possible title shot inside attain, I’ve to think about Kape goes to come back out of the gate firing on all cylinders.

“My objective is to be a champion,” Kape stated on the UFC Vegas 84 media day (watch it right here). “I imagine that beating Matheus Nicolau, I’ll get the title shot. That is my objective. It’s apparent. In fact it’s going to be depending on how I win, and that’s going to dictate every part. I’m on the lookout for the knockout or to complete him within the first spherical, undoubtedly. Proper now, [Alexandre Pantoja’s] received the belt so he’s going to play soiled to win, and never carry out as a result of he’s not going to show himself, however good for him. I’m right here to carry out. I’m going to be me on a regular basis — aggressive. Hopefully, I’m going to face him this yr.”

I hate to be overly-simplistic with my prediction, however Kape is sizzling proper now and has all of the momentum whereas Nicolau is seeking to rebound. A primary-round end wouldn’t shock me.

Prediction: Kape def. Nicolau by knockout

Don’t overlook to take a look at the remainder of the UFC Vegas 84 predominant card predictions RIGHT HERE.

LIVE! Stream UFC Vegas 84 On ESPN+

TOP-RANKED LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT REMATCH! Final Combating Championship (UFC) kicks off its 2024 blended martial arts (MMA) marketing campaign on Sat., Jan. 20, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada, with No. 3-ranked Gentle Heavyweight contender, Magomed Ankalaev, operating it again towards No. 7-seeded Johnny Walker after their preliminary wild encounter went up in smoke. In UFC Vegas 84’s co-main occasion, Light-weight legend, Jim Miller, locks horns with upstart knockout artist, Gabriel Benitez, in an intriguing 155-pound showdown.

Don’t miss a single second of face-punching motion!

MMAmania.com will ship LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow protection of the whole UFC Vegas 84 battle card RIGHT HERE, beginning with the ESPN+ preliminary card bouts at 4 p.m. ET, adopted by the ESPN+ predominant card begin time at 7 p.m. ET.

To take a look at the newest and best UFC Vegas 84 information and notes make sure to hit up our complete occasion archive right here. For the up to date and finalized “Ankalaev vs. Walker 2” battle card and ESPN+ line up click on right here.