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Magomed Ankalaev takes on Thiago Santos in the main event of UFC Vegas 50. The fight serves as an important one at light heavyweight as it helps determine who the next big contender is. Ankalaev looks to break out in the division and announce himself as the next top contender after going on an excellent run. Santos, for his part, looks to prove that he is still very much a contender at 205 and his past losing streak was simply a result of injuries and bad luck. The two men are known for their heavy hands and have impressive highlight reels in the UFC. That being said, they're both coming off of a string of decisions. This may very well be the fight that changes that.
Thiago Santos is a proven contender at light heavyweight and has been a very impressive addition since moving up from middleweight. The Brazilian has scored some big knockouts and even knocked out the former champion Jan Blachowicz. He has suffered some big losses lately due to his lack of ground game and has been outwrestled in dominant fashion. Santos beat Johnny Walker in his last fight but it didn't leave fans full of confidence, the fight was a low volume, kickboxing match over five rounds. His fight against Magomed Ankalaev will be a big test to see where he fits in the division.
Magomed Ankalaev is a well-rounded fighter that has many UFC fans excited about his potential. The Russian background coupled with the Abraham Lincoln beard will have many people assume he's a strong wrestler that looks to dominate the grappling. Not quite! The man is an excellent grappler but has no problem keeping the fight standing and landing big counter shots. Kicks are a big part of his game and he has landed some excellent knockouts during his UFC tenure. Many see this fight as his opportunity to break out and announce himself on the big stage. It will be interesting to see what he can do against a veteran like Thiago Santos.
Here are the UFC Vegas 50 odds, featuring our Santos-Ankalaev prediction, courtesy of FanDuel.
UFC Vegas 50 Odds: Santos-Ankalaev Odds
Thiago Santos (+460)
Magomed Ankalaev (-620)
Over 3.5 rounds (-120)
Under 3.5 rounds (-106)
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How Thiago Santos Wins The Fight At UFC Vegas 50
According to the odds, Thiago Santos has no chance of winning the fight at UFC Vegas 50. There is a big lack of faith in Santos, not only because of his losses but also because of his knee injuries that have sapped his athleticism. His last fight against Johnny Walker showed he can still get the job done and there are some things he can do to win this fight. Santos has big power and excellent counterstrikes. He has been adjusting his game and has been kicking less. Exploiting Magomed Ankalaev's susceptibility to take leg kicks will be important and keeping the fight standing is his best path to victory. Landing a big counter and chopping down the Russian will be huge for him to get the victory. Santos' most likely victory is by knockout.
How Magomed Ankalaev Wins The Fight At UFC Vegas 50
Magomed Ankalaev is a huge favorite and for good reason. He is very well-rounded, has big wins, clear knockout power, and he's not even 30 yet. Ankalaev has many things to like about his game and many are expecting this fight to be a showcase of his skills. That could very well be the case here. His power in the feet will be a game-changer and he can always turn to his wrestling if he gets outclassed on the feet. He'll need to be careful early on the feet as that's where he normally gets countered and runs into trouble. Thiago Santos is dangerous and could make him pay for his early mistakes. Keeping the fight standing will allow him to land big shots and his wrestling will help him finish off rounds and tire out his opponent if he needs it. His power should be enough to put away Santos with a knockout his most likely victory.
Final Santos-Ankalaev Prediction & Pick
The odds are the way they are for good reason. Magomed Ankalaev is a problem and this fight is meant to grow his stock at light heavyweight and help him enter the title picture. His counter shots coupled with his wrestling should be enough to take out an aging Thiago Santos. He'll look to trade early and figure out just how dangerous Santos still is on the feet. A five-round fight is not likely but many said that about Santos' last fight. Ankalaev is the better fighter at this point in his career and he'll look to prove he belongs at the top of the division. The Russian with the Abraham Lincoln beard gets the knockout in the second round after a fun first round.
Final Santos-Ankalaev Pick: Magomed Ankalaev (insert odds) wins by knockout in the second round.
