UFC 254: Magomed Ankalaev wants to sort out Ion Cutelaba beef, once and for all
- Controversial end to first clash has left tempers simmering ahead of Saturday’s return showdown
- ‘I’m cold blooded. I’m going to win this fight no matter what he does,’ says Ankalaev
In a year that has come full of surprises in the UFC, people are still scratching their heads when it comes to working out what went down in February when Russian light heavyweight Magomed Ankalaev met Ion Cutelaba of Moldova.
The final result – after just 38 seconds – was officially a TKO (punches and kicks) to Ankalaev.
But fans had already seen Cutelaba rush up to his Russian opponent before the bell while making a cutting motion across his throat to signify his intent. They’d seen the pair separated, and then the fight actually start, and then Ankalaev almost immediately landed what looked to be a number of kicks and punches to Cutelaba’s head.
The Moldovan was left staggering, seemingly punch drunk, across the cage. But was he actually hurt?
Referee Kevin MacDonald thought so, and made the TKO call, but Cutelaba waved the result away – and later claimed he was play acting all the time. “Controversial” was the call from the UFC. “Sham” was the collective social media appraisal.
“I know that I tagged him, that he was wobbling. But I don’t know if he continued to do that on purpose or he was really hurt. Only he can say the truth,” the 11th-ranked Ankalaev told SCMP MMA this week.
“In the beginning he was not playing. Was he trying to be the smart guy? You never know.”
UFC 254 win will set Khabib up for shot at ‘GOAT’ status
The pair are now poised now to go back at it on Saturday at UFC 253 – after even more drama was added to their particular narrative with two Covid-related cancellations of proposed rematches in the eight months between that first bout and now.
And then there was an official inquest into the first result that found no reason to have the decision overturned – a move that had Cutelaba claiming, again, he’d been “robbed”.
The 26-year-old Cutelaba (15-5, one no contest) has since been picking away at the sore when he talks to the media as he seeks his revenge. Ankalaev (14-1) has remained his usual stoic self.
“I’m cold blooded. I’m going to win this fight no matter what he does,” said Ankalaev.
The feeling after talking with Ankalaev from Abu Dhabi this week is that he wants simply to sort this little spat out, once and for all, and then concentrate on fighting his way into lightweight contention.
“With this sport all you have to do is move forward,” said Ankalaev. “I want to get this win and move on.”
