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Magomed Ankalaev vs Ion Cutelaba | UFC 254 Predictions

Magomed Ankalaev-Ion Cutelaba
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Magomed Ankalaev

Age: 28 years | Height: 6’3” (190.5 cm) | Weight: 205 lbs (93 kgs) | Reach: 75” (190.5 cm)
Professional MMA record: 13 wins and 1 loss | UFC record: 4 wins and 1 loss
Method of victory: 8 KO’s, 0 submissions, 5 decisions | Method of loss: 1 submission
Striking: 3.46 strikes landed/min | 56% striking accuracy | 1.24 strikes absorbed/min | 67% striking defense
Grappling: 0.68 takedowns average/15 mins | 33% takedown accuracy | 85% takedown defense | 0.0 submission average/15 mins.

Ankalaev’s last 3 fights

WIN Ion Cutelaba UFC Fight Night 169 – Benavidez vs. Figueiredo
Feb / 29 / 2020		 TKO (Head Kicks and Punches) Rd 1 0:38
WIN Dalcha Lungiambula UFC Fight Night 163 – Magomedsharipov vs. Kattar
Nov / 09 / 2019		 KO (Front Kick and Punch) Rd 3 0:29
WIN Klidson Abreu UFC Fight Night 145 – Blachowicz vs. Santos
Feb / 23 / 2019		 Decision (Unanimous) Rd 3 5:00

Ion Cutelaba ‘The Hulk’

Age: 26 years | Height: 6’1” (185.4 cm) | Weight: 205 lbs (93 kgs) | Reach: 75” (190.5 cm)
Professional MMA record: 15 wins and 5 losses (1 NC) | UFC record: 4 wins and 4 losses
Method of victory: 12 KO’s, 2 submissions, 1 decision | Method of loss: 1 KO, 2 submissions, 1 decision, 1 DQ
Striking: 5.29 strikes landed/min | 39% striking accuracy | 3.26 strikes absorbed/min | 48% striking defense
Grappling: 2.59 takedowns average/15 mins | 71% takedown accuracy | 80% takedown defense | 0.0 submission average/15 mins.

Cutelaba’s last 3 fights

LOSS Magomed Ankalaev UFC Fight Night 169 – Benavidez vs. Figueiredo
Feb / 29 / 2020		 TKO (Head Kicks and Punches) Rd 1 0:38
WIN Khalil Rountree UFC Fight Night 160 – Hermansson vs. Cannonier
Sep / 28 / 2019		 TKO (Elbows) Rd 1 2:35
LOSS Glover Teixeira UFC Fight Night 150 – Jacare vs. Hermansson
Apr / 27 / 2019		 Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) Rd 2 3:37

Magomed Ankalaev vs Ion Cutelaba Fight Predictions

This is a great matchup from a fan’s viewpoint, but looking to predict the victor of this fight, it’s clear to me that Cutelaba has bitten off more than he can chew here. Ankalaev is a very technical fighter with only one submission loss on his record. Cutelaba wants to make this a brawl whereas Ankalaev will look to stay on the outside and pick ‘The Hulk’ apart. I think Cutelaba blew his chance at winning when he pretended to be wobbled to invite Ankalev into a slugfest. Now he doesn’t really have the option to do that in the second fight, and I don’t think Ion has the strategic and technical capabilities to go three rounds with Magomed and win a decision. He needs a knockout here, and as Ankalaev has never been knocked out I don’t see any evidence that leads me to predict that will happen here.

Either Ankalaev dances around him and wins a decision, or he finishes the fight when Ion runs of gas. Either way, this fight is Ankalaev’s to lose, whose technique and striking accuracy should earn him the win here.

Prediction: Magomed Ankalaev via UD

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