5 reasons to watch UFC Fight Night: Thiago Santos vs. Magomed Ankalaev
This weekend sees the UFC return to Las Vegas for its latest Fight Night event. Unlike some of its predecessors, this card is a very strong one.
While it doesn’t feature a title bout or any of the promotion’s biggest names, there are still plenty of reasons to watch UFC Fight Night: Thiago Santos vs. Magomed Ankalaev.
A 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐕𝐄 milestone awaits!
@TMarretaMMA vs @AnkalaevM headlines #UFCVegas50 this weekend 🔥 https://t.co/3oOr3zcYVQ
These range from seeing some of the top contenders in the promotion in action, to potentially classic brawls between some of the promotion’s wildest fighters.
With that in mind, here are five reasons to watch UFC Fight Night: Thiago Santos vs. Magomed Ankalaev this weekend.
#5. Sodiq Yusuff vs. Alex Caceres is one of the most interesting UFC featherweight bouts in some time
The UFC’s featherweight division is not short on exciting prospects and contenders right now. This past weekend saw Bryce Mitchell climb the ladder with a tremendous win over Edson Barboza. Two more of the division’s top 15 are in action this weekend.
No.12-ranked Sodiq Yusuff is set to face No.15 Alex Caceres. While neither man is likely to receive a title shot with a win, if they impress enough, they could well find themselves in the top 10 come next week.
Caceres has been with the promotion since 2010, but ‘Bruce Leeroy’ is currently on the best run of his career. He’s riding a five-fight win streak and has lost just once since the start of 2018. Sure, his wins weren’t over top contenders, but they have been impressive nonetheless.
Yusuff, meanwhile, is coming off a loss to top 10-ranked Arnold Allen. Prior to that, he’d put together five wins in a row in the octagon. The native of Nigeria possesses some of the heaviest hands in the world at 145 pounds. If he can connect cleanly, he’s capable of knocking anyone out.
It's over!
@Super_Sodiq finishes Benitez in round 1! #UFC241 https://t.co/wX6QArngNJ
Like Mitchell vs. Barboza, this one promises to be a striker vs. grappler battle. While the grappler won that one, it’s likely that Yusuff – the striker – will be favored here.
Regardless, this should produce some great action in the octagon, and it’s undoubtedly one of the best featherweight fights put together in recent times – making it a must-watch clash.