Magomed Ankalaev proved that his first TKO victory over Ion Cutelabe was no fluke tonight at UFC 254 as he went one better this time around by KO’ing him in the opening round.
The early stages of the rematch were more cautious than their first meeting, but when they did engage it was Ankalaev’s work that looked more clinical, particularly his step back straight left, which started to tag his rival repeatedly as he tried to hunt him down.
Cutelaba began to press forward more aggressively, but just as he attempted a spinning attack, Ankalaev countered him with the straight left, which dropped him for a brief moment.
Back on the feet Cutelaba began throwing even more caution to the wind in an attempt to get back into the fight, throwing wide hooks, but that would prove to be his undoing as Ankalaev again perfectly timed his counter attack, blasting him with a right hook and straight left that sent him thumping to the mat.
From there Ankalaev followed him down and started landing ground and pound, with one big blow sealing the KO victory at 4.19mins of the first round.
