Magomed Ankalaev weathered the early storm from Nikita Krylov tonight at UFC Fight Night 186 and then began to take over the fight in the striking department and grappling in the later rounds to earn a unanimous decision victory.
Round One:
Body kick for Krylov. Now a calf kick. Hard punch for Krylov and then into the clinch as he works a takedown attempt. He moves to the back and trips Ankalaev’s leg to take out his base. Ankalaev still defending the takedown though, but is down to his knees.
Krylov working hard to fully secure this takedown, but Ankalaev is able to stand back up and so Krylov is straight back into the clinch against the cage.
Not too much happening and so they exchange knees and than Ankalaev manages to find distance to get away from the cage.
Back at striking range. Right hand lands for Ankalaev during an exchange. Now an uppercut for him. Body kick for Krylov. Head kick attempt too.
Front kick to the body for Krylov and Ankalaev counters with punches. Right hand for Krylov. Kick for Ankalaev.
Right hand for Krylov and a kick behind it. Front kick to the body and a right hand from him.
Nice right hand counter from Ankalaev as Krylov was working another front kick to the body. Ankalaev in an a takedown late in the round, but Krylov does well to stay standing.
Round Two:
Inside leg kick for KRylov. Bit of a frenzy in close and Ankalaev lands a good punch that made Krylov grimace for a split-second.
Good counter right hook for Ankalaev. Krylov lands now as the exchange again. Calf kick for Krylov. He attempts an uppercut, but gets countered.
Right hand lands for Ankalaev. jab and a body kick from Krylov. He tries for takedown and gets shoved aside.
Head kick attempt for Ankalaev. leg kick for Krylov and then in the clinch he lands some dirty boxing, but Ankalaev lands a big knee to the body.
Body punch for Ankalaev. Counter right hook. Again the counter right from Ankalaev. He goes for it again. Front kick to the body from Ankalaev.
Jab from Ankalaev. That hook lands again as Krylov tries to let his hands go. Now Ankalaev lands a takedown in the center of the Octagon.
Half-guard for Ankalaev now. Krylov gets to his knees and drives in for takedown, but Ankalaev stuffs that and keeps on top.
Krylov gets him back in his full guard. Ankalaev lands a nice punch and elbow. More elbows for Ankalaev as the round ends.
Round Three:
Punch and body kick for Krylov. leg kick for Ankalaev. Krylov aborts a spinning attack, but lands kicks instead.
Hard right hand from Ankalaev. Krylov attempts a takedown and gets bundled away by Ankalaev.
Jab for Krylov. Ankalaev attempts his own takedown attempt against the cage, but Krylov defending for now. Trip for Ankalaev to get on top.
Ankalaev in half guard straight away, but Krylov has his back against the cage. Punches for Ankalaev. Krylov posts and gets back to his feet. Ankalaev stays clinched.
Ankalaev almost gets Krylov back down, but his opponent does well to remain standing. Two minutes left as Krylov tries to counter with his own takedown without success and instead it’s Ankalaev who gets him down.
Elbow for Ankalaev. Krylov still has his back up against the cage and would like to get back up, but Ankalaev is landing left hands.
Krylov can’t get out from under Ankalaev here and Ankalaev lands a few more punches and tries to improve his position as the round ends.
Decision:
Ankalaev turned up the pressure as the fight progressed here and leads him to a unanimous decision victory ().
