Ankalaev Vs. Walker ‘Payback’ Video Preview

The UFC Vegas 84 mixed martial arts (MMA) event will be headlined by a 205-pound showdown between Top 10 light heavyweight contenders Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker, taking place TONIGHT (Sat., Jan. 13, 2024) on ESPN+ from inside the promotion’s APEX facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. This five-round affair marks an immediate rematch following their UFC 294 “No Contest” last Oct. in Abu Dhabi.

Check out their “Payback” video preview embedded above.

“I’m not looking for just coming out there and having my hand raised at the end of the fight,” Ankalaev said at the UFC Vegas 84 media day (watch it here). “What I want to do is I want to make sure that I get there, I make a statement and the fight is going to be over way before the final bell. I believe that 2024 is my year, and by the end of this year, you’ll see that the strap is around my waist. As the managers are telling me, it’s basically if I win this fight, there is nobody else who deserves the title run more than I do.”

“We know his pattern and what he likes to do, so we simulate these for many months, many weeks while sparring,” Walker said at the UFC Vegas 84 media day (watch it here). “I’m ready for whatever he tries to do, if he takes me down, if he tries striking. I know his pattern and what he’s going to try to use against me. Nothing has changed much. Just prepare for the worst. I’m ready. Maybe I’ll put him down because you never saw him when he back is on the floor, his behavior. I’m pretty sure if any of my good shots land, he’s going to sleep. If I get his back, I’m going to make him sleep, too. I’m going to choke him. I always try to push and get the best of myself and to finish the fight as well. I don’t like the judges deciding the fight for me and too much hard work for someone to maybe make a wrong decision. I want to make sure I have the fight in my hands so I’m going to do my best to finish the fight.”

Nothing left to do now except fight.

MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Vegas 84 fight card RIGHT HERE, starting with the ESPN+ preliminary card bouts at 4 p.m. ET, followed by the ESPN+ main card start time at 7 p.m. ET.

To check out the latest and greatest UFC Vegas 84 news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive here. For the updated and finalized “Ankalaev vs. Walker 2” fight card and ESPN+ line up click here.