Amid heavy controversy, [autotag]Ion Cutelaba[/autotag] and [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] will run things back.
Cutelaba (15-5 MMA, 4-4 UFC) and Ankalaev (13-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) will rematch less than two months after their UFC on ESPN+ 27 fight, when the two square off April 18 at UFC 249 in Brooklyn. MMA Junkie confirmed the matchup after an initial report from ESPN.
The two faced off last Saturday in Norfolk, where referee Kevin MacDonald made the wrong decision to stop to the fight just 38 seconds in after Cutelaba was very much still responsive on his feet. The fight was ruled a TKO win for Ankalaev.
Cutelaba partially blocked an Ankalaev head kick, which forced him backwards, but as soon as he tried to return fire, the referee intervened and waived the fight off.
A fully conscious Cutelaba immediately protested the stoppage. He later claimed that he was playing possum to try and bait Ankalaev, but unfortunately the strategy cost him. An irate Cutelaba requested for the outcome to be overturned, and while he didn’t get his wish, he will get an opportunity to avenge the loss on his record.
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With the addition, the UFC 249 lineup now includes:
- Champ Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson – for lightweight title
- Uriah Hall vs. Ronaldo Souza
- Jessica Andrade vs. Rose Namajunas
- Ben Rothwell vs. Gian Villante
- Calvin Kattar vs. Jeremy Stephens
- Ottman Azaitar vs. Khama Worthy
- Sijara Eubanks vs. Sarah Moras
- Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. TBA
- Makhmud Muradov vs. Karl Roberson
- Lyman Good vs. Belal Muhammad
- Hunter Azure vs. Umar Nurmagomedov
- Alexander Hernandez vs. Islam Makhachev
- Magomed Ankalaev vs. Ion Cutelaba
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