With college football gone for the next seven and a half months (save for a few remaining all-star exhibitions due to take place over the next month-plus), your Saturday nights might seem less exciting now, but have no fear. While the tackles, touchdowns and mascot celebrations are only a memory, Dana White is here to rescue you from your doldrums.
That’s right, ladies and gentlemen: MMA‘s top promotion is back to kick off a new year of competitive violence. This Saturday night, the UFC returns for its opening event of 2024 when the Apex facility plays host to UFC Vegas 84.
Much like the Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs contest in the AFC Wild Card Playoff, UFC Vegas 84 is exclusive to a streaming platform, although this event will have significantly less fan scorn attached to it. ESPN+ delivers bell-to-bell coverage of UFC Vegas 84 starting at 4 pm ET/ 1 pm PT with the prelims, continuing at 7 pm ET/ 4 pm PT with the main card.
Light Heavyweight Rematch in UFC Vegas 84 Main Event
Absent of any late postponements between now and Saturday, UFC Vegas 84 is currently scheduled to feature 12 fights on the evening. The night is highlighted by rematches at the top of the show. Immediately following a flyweight rematch between Matheus Nicolau and Manel Kape in the co-main event, the headliner sees another rematch at 205 lbs.
No. 5 contender Magomed Ankalaev (18-1-1, 1 NC MMA, 9-1-1, 1 NC UFC) and No, 6 contender Johnny Walker (21-7, 1 NC MMA, 7-4, 1 NC UFC) run it back three months after their first meeting ended with an inadvertent illegal knee. As with all UFC main events, this one is an advertised maximum of five rounds at five minutes per round to close the show.
UFC Vegas 84 Main Event Fighter Comparison and Betting Odds
Heading into the UFC Vegas 84 main event on Saturday night, Johnny Walker stands as the taller man at 6-foot-6, compared to the 6-foot-3 frame of Magomed Ankalaev. Walker owns a seven-inch reach advantage (82 inches to 75 inches) over Ankalaev, with Ankalaev owning a 1 1/2-inch leg reach advantage (46 inches even to 44 1/2 inches.)
As of Wednesday afternoon, the oddsmakers have Magomed Ankalaev installed as a -560 betting favorite on the money line, while Johnny Walker counters as a +410 underdog. If you plan on betting on this or any other fight happening this weekend, please wager responsibly.
Magomed Ankalaev Looks to Run Unbeaten Streak to Six Fights
Magomed Ankalaev enters the main event having gone 3-0-1 with one no-contest in his last five fights. Prior to the no-contest against Johnny Walker in October, he fought to a draw against Jan Blachowicz (29-10-1 MMA, 12-7-1 UFC) in December of 2022.
Before the original fight, Ankalev told the press that he wanted to throw anything Walker’s way.
“I’m going to go easy on him, get the right timing, the right steps,” Ankalaev mentioned. “He’s going to see that I’m too long, he can’t fight me in the striking and he’s going to shoot. Then he’s going to say ‘He’s too good in wrestling, as well,’ so what is he going to do? I’m going to make him quit.”
Ankalaev didn’t get much of a chance to put his plan of attack into action with the no-contest, and given that the UFC Vegas 84 main event is a five-round affair, will he be able to give Johnny Walker everything he has? Only time will tell.
Johnny Walker Gets His Wish on Saturday Night
In the other corner, Johnny Walker has posted a record of 3-1 with one no-contest in his last five appearances. At the present time, he’s on a four-fight unbeaten streak.
Before the no-contest at UFC 294, he scored a unanimous decision win against Anthony Smith (37-19 MMA, 12-9 UFC) during UFC Charlotte on May 13. Following the original bout against Ankalaev getting called off in the first round, a furious Walker advocated for a rematch.
“I’m going to catch him again, God willing, as soon as possible. We’ve been negotiating to see if I can return and rematch him,” Walker began. “I’m sure I’m going to send him to the moon. There will be no talking with that guy. I’m going to mess him up, I’m going to tear through him and erase him from history, because he’s a dirty guy. I’m going to mess him up good.”
As far as bulletin board material goes, Walker delivered some first-tier stuff a few months ago. Can he put his words into action when it matters the most?
Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction
Stylistically, the UFC Vegas 84 main event looks to favor Magomed Ankalaev, an International Master of Sport in amateur MMA and Master of Sport in Combat Sambo in his native Russia, compared to Johnny Walker’s brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Magomed Ankalaev Has Vicious Punches
Given that Magomed Ankalaev is a decorated combat sportsman with 11 gold medals to his name in amateur MMA, he will do just about anything within the laws of the sport to get the win. While his original bout with Ion Cutelaba in 2020 was stewed in controversy due to an early stoppage, the rematch left no doubt as to who was the superior fighter.
During the first round of a scheduled three, Ankalaev connected with a crisp front kick. Undeterred, Cutelaba stalked him and returned fire with an overhand punch and a right-handed shot.
The men continued to stalk one another, waiting to land the big blow. Late in the round, after Cutelaba was knocked down, Ankalaev landed a punch to the head square and true to put him on the mat for keeps, ending the contest with a flurry of ground and pound shots.
Look for Magomed Ankalaev to go upstairs early and often in the UFC Vegas 84 main event. If he’s able to work on the second floor with Johnny Walker, he’ll walk out of Vegas with a W.
Walker Can Bring the Heat, Too
In the other corner, Johnny Walker is also known for delivering a highlight-reel knockout from time to time. Ryan Spann found out the hard way in September of 2020.
Round one saw the men immediately come out swinging, but the pace was quickly slowed thanks to a clinch. Upon Walker breaking free, Spann knocked him down with a single punch and immediately went to work on the mat. This offensive burst was short-lived and Walker turned the tables on him with a surge of hammerfists, nearly knocking Spann out in the process.
A second round of hammerfists put him down and out inside three minutes. If Walker finds himself on the receiving end of a barrage of strikes, look for him to try and reverse the script.
Final Thoughts
There’s obviously a lot of bad blood for the UFC Vegas 84 main event. One last word of advice: Get your popcorn ready.
Prediction: Magomed Ankalaev by Unanimous Decision.
The first time @AnkalaevM and @JohnnyWalker met, this happened đŸ‘€
Watch their rematch at #UFCVegas84 on @ESPNPlus this Saturday! pic.twitter.com/koGMrkNkNI
— UFC (@ufc) January 10, 2024
