Magomed Ankalaev

Magomed Ankalaev, known to fans as “Big Ank,” is a Russian mixed martial artist of Avar heritage who competes in the light heavyweight division of the UFC.

Born and raised in Dagestan, Ankalaev grew up immersed in the region's wrestling culture, first training in Greco-Roman wrestling before transitioning to combat sambo. He built his early reputation on the Russian amateur circuit, competing in tournaments sanctioned by the World MMA Amateur Association (WMMAA), before turning professional and eventually capturing the light heavyweight title with World Fighting Championship Akhmat (WFCA). He joined the UFC roster in 2018 as an undefeated prospect carrying a knockout streak into the organization.

His amateur credentials include multiple WMMAA tournament championships, among them a World MMA Championships title, and he holds Master of Sport rank in combat sambo, a discipline blending wrestling, judo-style throws and controlled striking that has produced many of Dagestan's top fighting exports.

Inside the cage, Ankalaev set himself apart from many of his Dagestani contemporaries by leaning on distance management and calculated, heavy-handed striking rather than a wrestling-first game plan. His patient, counter-punching approach lets him pick opponents apart from range, while his grappling background remains available whenever a fight moves to the mat.

Across his UFC run, Ankalaev built a résumé of wins over established light heavyweight competition, including Anthony Smith, Thiago Santos and Aleksandar Rakić. That sustained success culminated at UFC 313, where he defeated Alex Pereira by unanimous decision to win the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, the signature achievement of his career.

Ankalaev's ascent added another chapter to Dagestan's emergence as a hub of elite MMA talent, a lineage most closely associated with former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov