A light heavyweight headliner between Thiago Santos and Magomed Ankalaev is taking place now (Saturday, Mar. 12, 2022) at UFC Vegas 50.
Round 1
A lot of feeling out early on. Ankalaev misses with a front body kick. Santos jabs the body and follows it up with a low kick. Ankalaev catches Santos with a right during an exchange. Santos attempts a body kick and nearly eats a big counter right. Santos with a front body kick. Ankalaev lands with a counter left as Santos enters the pocket. Santos connects with a leg kick. Not a lot of action to end the first round.
Round 2
Both fighters are bit more aggressive early on with kicks. Santos sees his head kick blocked. Santos lands an oblique kick to the knee of Ankalaev. Santos is backed up against the cage. Ankalaev with a left to the body. They trade leg kicks. Ankalaev blocks a head kick as he continues to back Santos up. Ankalev lands a body kick. Ankalaev lands a right hook and follows it up with a head kick that is partially blocked. Santos knocks Ankalev down with a counter left during a clinch and ends the round on top!
Round 3
Ankalaev nearly gets through the guard of Santos with a head kick. Santos attacks the leg. Ankalaev lands with a big left overhand. Ankalaev digs the body with a front kick. Santos is backed up against the fence again but lands a leg kick. Both fighters trade leg and body kicks. Ankalaev catches Santos with a left. Ankalaev catches a kick and fires a left. They exchange leg kicks. Both fighters connect as the round ends.
Round 4
Ankalaev with a body kick. Santos goes forward and starts unloading with strikes. He attempts a flying knee. However, Ankalaev has him backed up against the fence again. Ankalaev digs the body. Both fighters connect in the pocket. Ankalaev attacks the body. Santos with a combination. Santos appears to be slowing down. Ankalaev sees his head kick blocked. Ankalaev connects with a left. Ankalaev is much more loose with his hands now. Santos with a front kick to the body. Ankalaev gets the body lock and has Santos clinched up against the fence. He eventually gets Santos down with just over 30 seconds remaining.
Round 5
A left from Santos which is just avoided by Ankalaev. Ankalaev lands a right and follows it with a left to the body. Ankalaev clinches Santos against the fence again and lands some knees. The action remains in the clinch as Santos struggles to get Ankalaev off him. Ankalaev continues throwing knees to the leg and body of Santos. Both fighters go the distance.
Official Result: Magomed Ankalaev defeats Thiago Santos via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47).
Check out the highlights below:
3 rounds down – how do you have it scored? 📝
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For the final time tonight we head to the judges.
Who takes the W? #UFCVegas50 pic.twitter.com/ty4KsScfrT
— UFC (@ufc) March 13, 2022
Magomed Ankalaev takes the biggest win of his career by UD 💪
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— UFC (@ufc) March 13, 2022
