Magomed Ankalaev Claims His Lone UFC Loss Was the Worst in History After ‘Giving Up’ in Final Seconds

Magomed Ankalaev, who has only experienced one defeat in his entire mixed martial arts career, believes this singular loss might arguably be the worst in the sport`s history.

This Saturday, Ankalaev is set to defend his light heavyweight championship for the first time in a highly anticipated rematch against Alex Pereira at UFC 320, held at the T-Mobile Arena. Earlier this year, at UFC 313, the Russian fighter secured a surprising victory over Pereira, dominating him in striking for five rounds. Throughout his career, the 33-year-old has largely appeared unstoppable, with only one instance where he faced a setback.

Ankalaev Labels His Sole UFC Defeat the Worst in History

Before his loss to Ankalaev, Alex Pereira, known as `Poatan,` was widely considered the most prominent figure in combat sports, having overcome every opponent he faced. Despite losing his title, the Brazilian now has the opportunity to become the first fighter in modern UFC history, alongside Randy Couture, to claim a three-time championship across two different weight divisions.

In contrast, Ankalaev`s impressive 23-fight MMA record includes just one loss, which occurred in his 2018 UFC debut. After a strong performance on the regional circuit, `Big Ank` was matched against Paul Craig for his first UFC bout. Despite controlling the Scottish fighter for most of the fight, Ankalaev suffered a shocking submission defeat with only one second remaining on the clock.

Reflecting on this sole career loss as he prepares for his first title defense, Ankalaev has controversially stated it could be the worst in UFC history, admitting he “gave up” in the final moments.

“I used to worry about losing and what others would say about me,” Ankalaev shared in an interview with the UFC. “That`s no longer the case. You could say I suffered the worst loss in the UFC; I conceded in literally the fight`s final moments. People had both positive and negative reactions.”

He continued, “The way I see it – I don`t do things for others` benefit; I do them for myself, my loved ones, and those who believe in me… That loss changed my life. It was difficult at first; I didn`t appear in public for a month. I thought I wouldn`t fight anymore, but within that month, I realized it wasn`t truly because of me. I did everything I could; it was the will of the Almighty.”

Ankalaev Hints at Significant Career Shift After UFC 320

As is common in the UFC today, if Ankalaev`s upcoming fight goes as planned, he is already contemplating a move to a higher weight class. Beyond Pereira, Carlos Ulberg is currently the only other prominent contender for the light heavyweight title, having recently secured an impressive win at UFC Perth. However, before pursuing the ambition of becoming a double champion, Ankalaev must first replicate his previous performance against `Poatan` and potentially defend his title against Ulberg.