Ankalaev-Walker 2 booked for 1st UFC main event of 2024
A rematch between light heavyweight contenders Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker will headline the UFC Fight Night event on Jan. 13 in Las Vegas, Walker's coach confirmed on "The MMA Hour."
Ankalaev and Walker first met at UFC 294 in October, with the fight ending in a no-contest.
Ankalaev hit Walker with an illegal knee in the first round of their pivotal main-card bout, and the cageside doctor ruled that the latter was unable to continue. Afterward, Walker took issue with the doctor's decision and said he would've been OK to fight.
The winner of the rematch could be in prime position to challenge newly crowned UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira for the title. Ankalaev and Walker are ranked Nos. 2 and 7 in the division, respectively. Pereira knocked out Jiri Prochazka in Saturday's UFC 295 main event to become champion.
Ankalaev is riding an 11-fight unbeaten streak, nine of which are wins. Before the no-contest, the Dagestani fighter went to a split draw in a vacant title bout with Jan Blachowicz last December. Ankalaev, who has beaten the likes of Anthony Smith and Nikita Krylov, hasn't lost since his UFC debut in early 2018.
Walker had won three in a row - including a decision over Smith and a knockout of Paul Craig - before the no-contest against Ankalaev last month.