UFC Fight Night 203 Preview
The UFC will be heading back to the Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday March 12th for UFC Fight Night 203. The main event will have title implications in the light heavyweight division between #5 Thiago Santos and #6 Mogomed Ankalaev.
Santos is a former title challenger having fought Jon Jones at UFC 239 to a split decision in a fight many people believe he won. The loss to Jones kicked off a three-fight losing streak for the 38-year-old but he rebounded well in October with a unanimous decision victory over Johnny Walker. The road back to a title shot will start on Saturday with a win over Ankalaev.
Santos (22-9) has been fighting in the UFC since 2013 and has had a storied career thus far. He has shown devastating power in wins over Nate Marquardt, Jack Hermansson, Anthony Smith, Jimi Manuwa and former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz. The Brazilian can end a fight with one shot, so he is always a dangerous challenge for any opponent.
While many people believe that Santos may be on the wrong side of his career age wise, he has taken inspiration from former opponent and current champion Glover Texeira. “I feel so happy, so happy for him,” Santos told MMA Junkie. “He’s a good guy. He proved to everyone that it’s possible. (He’s) 42 years old and he became champion, so it’s possible for everyone.
“Really, it’s a big example for me. I’m not young. He became champion at 42 years old. I’m 38 so I have four years to do that, to work. I believe so much that I can become champion too.”
With a win on Saturday Santos could be looking at a rematch with the champion should Texeira get by Jiri Prochazka at UFC 275 in June.
Ankalaev (16-1) is on a seven-fight winning streak since losing his UFC debut in 2018. He most recently defeated former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir at UFC 267 in October. The 29-year-old also has key victories over Nikita Krylov and Ion Cutelaba twice. A win over another former title challenger and eight straight victories would put the Dagestanian in good position to challenge for the title next after UFC 275.
Both men have proven they are incredibly dangerous when the fight is standing, but it would be interesting to see who holds the advantage on the ground. Ankalaev has a strong grappling background, but Santos is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu blackbelt. The ground game would be a significant change in strategy for both fighters as Ankalaev does not have a submission win in his career, and Santos has not won a fight by submission since 2011. So if we see a finish for either fighter it is most likely to be on the feet via strikes.
A loss for Santos would put a giant dent in his hopes of challenging for the title in the UFC again. A win in convincing fashion would remind the rest of the light heavyweight division and his pundits that he is still a threat to anyone. Ankalaev needs a dominant win to bypass everyone else in the top fight and prove he is worthy of the next title shot. Either way a win keeps him in prime position and at the top of title talks.
The rest of the main card:
Bantamweight - #10 Marlon Moraes vs. #14 Song Yadong
Featherweight - #12 Sodiq Yusuff vs. #15 Alex Caceres
Light Heavyweight - Khalil Rountree Jr. vs. Karl Roberson
Lightweight - Drew Dober vs. Terrance McKinney
Middleweight - Alex Pereira vs. Bruno Silva
ESPN + Prelims:
Welterweight - Matthew Semelsberger vs. A.J. Fletcher
Women's Flyweight - JJ Aldrich vs. Gillian Robertson
Bantamweight - Trevin Jones vs Javid Basharat
Featherweight - Damon Jackson vs. Kamuela Kirk
Women's Flyweight - Sabina Mazo vs. Miranda Maverick
Middleweight - Dalcha Lungiambula vs. Cody Brundage
Bantamweight - Guido Cannetti vs. Kris Moutinho
Light Heavyweight - Tafon Nchukwi vs. Azamat Murzakanov
