Magomed Ankalaev vs Ion Cutelaba | UFC 254 Predictions
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
