Ankalaev-Cutelaba 2 set for UFC 249 after controversial stoppage

Magomed Ankalaev and Ion Cutelaba will face off for a second time at UFC 249 on April 18 in New York, the promotion confirmed Saturday.

The light heavyweight prospects' first encounter, which took place at UFC Norfolk on Feb. 29, ended in controversial fashion. Ankalaev was awarded a 38-second knockout victory after hurting Cutelaba early in the first round, but referee Kevin MacDonald intervened while Cutelaba was still standing and throwing a punch.

After the fight, Cutelaba said he had deliberately acted dazed.

"Every (strike) that my opponent did, I controlled it," Cutelaba said, according to MMA Fighting's Steven Marrocco. "When the referee stopped the fight, I was countering. This was a part of the game plan, and the referee thought I fell. But that was part of the game plan."

Prior to Okamoto's report of a rematch, Cutelaba's manager, Tiago Okamura, had said he planned to file an appeal with Virginia's Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation in an attempt to overturn the knockout defeat, according to Marrocco.

Ankalaev extended his winning streak to four with that victory. Cutelaba has lost two of his last three bouts.

A lightweight title fight between champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson will headline UFC 249.