Cormier On Ankalaev's Title Shot After Abu Dhabi Finish
Daniel Cormier believes Magomed Ankalaev has positioned himself for another heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight title shot after stopping Bogdan Guskov in the fifth round at UFC Abu Dhabi this past Saturday.
Ankalaev's victory came against a late replacement after original opponent Khalil Rountree withdrew with an injury. The finish marked a statement win for the former champion, who lost the belt to Carlos Ulberg earlier this year.
Why Ankalaev May Get Next Title Shot
Cormier told his YouTube audience that recent shake-ups at 205 pounds have created an opening for Ankalaev to face Ulberg when the champion returns from ACL surgery, per MMA Junkie. "The heavyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">light heavyweight division is in a weird place right now because it's got a new champion," Cormier said. "Alex Pereira is up at heavyweight. Jamahal Hill is up at heavyweight. So a lot of the guys that have fought for the belt are out of the weight class."
The former two-division champion pointed to a lack of proven contenders rising through the ranks. Ankalaev securing the stoppage, he suggested, may have been enough to vault him back into title contention.
Ulberg told UFC on Paramount+ after the Abu Dhabi card that he saw what he needed from Ankalaev and expects to return early next year. The champion tore his ACL defeating Jiri Prochazka in April. Former middleweight Paulo Costa has lobbied for an interim belt while Ulberg recovers, though the promotion has not announced plans for one.
Original reporting:
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