What Should Be Next for Magomed Ankalaev After UFC 320?

What Should Be Next for Magomed Ankalaev After UFC 320?13 hours ago

At UFC 320 in Las Vegas, Magomed Ankalaev was stopped in the first round by reigning light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. Ankalaev looked to assert his wrestling early, but Pereira’s elite takedown defense kept the fight standing. The Russian contender exchanged strikes briefly with Pereira before getting caught with a left hook that sent him down, leading to a TKO finish just over two minutes into the opening round. The defeat drops Ankalaev’s record to 19-2-1 and marks a tough setback after his string of strong performances in one of the UFC’s most competitive divisions.

The next logical step for Ankalaev is a high-stakes clash with former champion Jiří Procházka. Procházka is coming off a highlight-reel knockout win over Khalil Rountree Jr. on the same UFC 320 card, once again proving himself as one of the division’s most dangerous and unpredictable fighters. A matchup between Ankalaev and Procházka makes perfect sense: both are ranked at the top of the division, both are fresh off high-profile fights, and the winner would almost certainly put himself back into title contention.

Stylistically, Ankalaev vs. Procházka is a fascinating fight. Ankalaev’s measured, technical striking and strong wrestling base contrast with Procházka’s wild, aggressive approach and constant forward pressure. Ankalaev would look to impose his control and avoid Procházka’s chaos, while Jiří would try to draw Ankalaev into exchanges where his creativity and unpredictability shine. This clash of styles could easily headline a UFC Fight Night and would answer important questions about who deserves to challenge for the belt next.

Last Five Fights – Magomed Ankalaev:

1. Loss to Alex Pereira – TKO (left hook and punches), UFC 320 (October 4, 2025)
2. Win over Alex Pereira – Decision (unanimous), UFC 313 (March 8, 2025)
3. Win over Jan Błachowicz – Decision (unanimous), UFC 302 (June 1, 2024)
4. Win over Johnny Walker – KO (punches), UFC Fight Night (January 6, 2024)
5. Win over Anthony Smith – Decision (unanimous), UFC 291 (July 29, 2023)

Last Five Fights – Jiří Procházka:

1. Win over Khalil Rountree Jr. – KO (punch), UFC 320 (October 4, 2025)
2. Win over Jamahal Hill – TKO (punches), UFC 306 (January 25, 2025)
3. Loss to Alex Pereira – TKO (strikes), UFC 312 (May 17, 2025)
4. Loss to Alex Pereira – TKO (strikes), UFC 295 (November 11, 2023)
5. Win over Glover Teixeira – Submission (rear-naked choke), UFC 275 (June 11, 2022)