Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Promising light heavyweight prospect Magomed Ankalaev made a memorable return to the cage earlier today (Sat., Nov. 9, 2019) at UFC Fight Night 163 live on ESPN+ from inside CSKA Arena in Moscow, Russia, when he flattened game striker Dalcha Lungiambula via third-round knockout (front kick and punches).
After two entertaining rounds, which mostly saw Ankalaev smashing Lungiambula with vicious ground-and-pound chock-full of sharp elbows, the Russian light heavyweight let loose on the feet entering the third. Ankalaev launched a devastating front kick that caught Lungiambula directly on the chin. The former kickboxer started to fell backwards to the canvas as Ankalaev followed up with an insurance punch that forced the referee’s hand.
Check out the full fight video highlights above courtesy of UFC/ESPN.
With this performance, Ankalaev has now won three straight fights in the UFC’s growing 205-pound division after dropping his debut to Paul Craig via submission in March of last year. The 29-year-old finisher is truly starting to come into his own and with finishes like this on should be considered a dark horse contender entering 2020.
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