Magomed Ankalaev feels overlooked after UFC 277, wonders about title shot after nine consecutive wins

DALLAS – Magomed Ankalaev doesn’t feel like he’s getting the respect he deserves.

The UFC light heavyweight contender thinks he’s being overlooked given the body of work he’s built and the return he’s been getting. Ankalaev (18-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) notched his ninth consecutive win this Saturday, stopping veteran Anthony Smith by second-round TKO on the main card of UFC 277.

Yet, despite the impressive run, Ankalaev doesn’t feel fully appreciated.

“I think I should already deserve respect. They should respect me,”
Ankalaev told reporters thorough an interpreter during his UFC 277 post-fight news conference. “Not a lot of people have a nine-fight wining streak, and Jiri Prochazka got the title shot after two wins, and after nine I got nothing.”

Ankalaev has lost once in his professional career. The defeat came against Paul Craig in a fight he was dominating until he got submitted late in the third round of their contest in 2018. And since, he’s beaten notable names such as Nikita Krylov, Volkan Oezdemir, Thiago Santos, and now Smith.

The 30-year-old hopes to get a title shot but will be a company man and do whatever the UFC asks of him next.

“If UFC would hear me, it would be a different story, but I’m not asking for anything,” Ankalaev said. “I’ll just wait to see what they propose to my managers, and I’ll take any fight.”