Magomed Ankalaev destroys Ion Cutelaba at UFC 254 with stunning punch KO as heated rivalry finally comes to brutal end
MAGOMED ANKALAEV ended his rivalry with Ion Cutelaba with stunning knockout at UFC 254.
Ankalaev had got the better of his light-heavyweight foe in February, winning by stoppage in round one.
Magomed Ankalaev ended his rivalry with Ion Cutelaba with stunning knockout at UFC 254[/caption] Ankalaev has beat Cutelaba twice in the first round [/caption]Cutelaba got his shot at redemption on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, opening the pay-per-view card.
But his grand opening ended in heartbreak again, as Ankalaev again closed the show in the first round.
As Cutelaba charged forward, Ankalaev countered with a perfect right hand over the top, which set him up to end the rematch with brutal ground and pound.
Ankalaev said: “I feel great, now I can finally sleep well. It was a six month camp, so I did a really, really good job in the six months and today I proved it.
“I wanted to catch him, I wanted to finish with a counter and I finished with a counter.
“I think everybody in my division was watching this fight.
“I’m going after the top fighters, so I hope they’re waiting for me.”
Most read in Sport
Russian Ankalaev wants a top ranked opponent next, and called out former champion Mauricio Shogun Rua and ex-title challenger Anthony Smith.
He said: “I’d love to fight a top five fighter, but it would be interesting, and I would prefer to fight Shogun Rua or Anthony Smith, but other than that, anyone in the top five.
“I’m just happy that I can sleep well right now.
“I’m going to probably rest about two, three weeks and hopefully get a top five opponent.”