A light heavyweight bout between former champion Magomed Ankalaev and Khalil Rountree Jr. will headline the upcoming UFC Abu Dhabi event.
Vestnik MMA posted the news on social media that Ankalaev vs. Rountree will take place at UFC Abu Dhabi, which is set for Etihad Arena at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Ankalaev vs. Rountree will serve as the five-round headliner of the event.
Ankalaev recently challenged Rountree to a fight on social media, and now, he gets his wish.
Former UFC Champion Magomed Ankalaev Returns
Ankalaev gets a chance to get back in the win column after he lost the UFC light heavyweight title to Alex Pereira in his last fight at UFC 320. That was Ankalaev’s first loss in 14 fights, and it came by first-round stoppage, though against one of the best fighters in the world in Pereira. So, despite that defeat, Ankalaev is still the No. 1-ranked light heavyweight in the division, right behind the new UFC light heavyweight champion, Carlos Ulberg.
While it was surprising to see Ankalaev lose his belt so quickly to Pereira, as the fight lasted just 1:20, he is still one of the top light heavyweights in the UFC, and he’ll get the chance to show just that here against Rountree in what should be a terrific fight between two strikers.
Look for Ankalaev to be the betting favorite in this fight, given his championship experience and superior cardio. But he will have to guard his chin early in the fight when Rountree is at his most dangerous, and he will also need to remember to check the low kicks that Rountree throws at him, as Rountree is one of the most powerful leg kickers in the game. Ankalaev may also try to mix in some takedowns in this fight, but generally, he prefers to fight standing on the feet.
Khalil Rountree Jr. Looking to Bounce Back
For Rountree, this is a great opportunity for him to bounce back after he was brutally knocked out by Jiri Prochazka in his last fight at UFC 320 last October. Rountree was actually winning that fight, having taken the first two rounds of it, before he began to fatigue and tired out in the last round, leading to Prochazka overwhelming him and finishing the fight by stoppage.
Before that, Rountree had defeated former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill in a shutout, so he is still at the top of his game despite the defeat to Prochazka. His other recent fight was a loss to Pereira by knockout, but again, it was a fight that Rountree was doing well in before he began to fatigue late and get tired, which often leads to disaster in mixed martial arts.
For Rountree, the chance to fight Ankalaev gives him an amazing opportunity to get back on the horse and take out a former UFC champ to keep his spot near the top of the weight class. Rountree enters this fight as the No. 5-ranked light heavyweight in the UFC.
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