In the main event, [autotag]Thiago Santos[/autotag] (22-9 MMA, 14-8 UFC) and [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] (16-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) meet in a high-stakes light heavyweight clash with potential meaning for the title picture.
At the conclusion of the official weigh-ins, the fighters came face to face for final staredowns. Check out the highlights in the video above and footage from the fighters on the scale below.
UFC Fight Night 203 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The entire card streams on ESPN+.
Thiago Santos and Magomed Ankalaev have wrapped up their lone faceoff ahead of the UFC Fight Night 203 main event.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Thiago Santos[/autotag] and [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] have wrapped up their lone faceoff ahead of the UFC Fight Night 203 main event.
After successfully making weight for the light heavyweight headliner, Santos (22-9 MMA, 14-8 UFC) and Ankalaev (16-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) came face-to-face for a staredown.
The UFC Fight Night 203 main event is official after Thiago Santos and Magomed Ankalaev made weight.
LAS VEGAS – The UFC Fight Night 203 main event is official after [autotag]Thiago Santos[/autotag] and [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] made weight.
Light heavyweight contenders Santos (22-9 MMA, 14-8 UFC) and Ankalaev (16-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) are set for a headlining clash Saturday at the UFC Apex, with the card set to stream on ESPN+.
Santos stepped on the scale first to open weigh-ins at 205 pounds. Ankalaev, meanwhile, came in right on his heels and registered at 205.5 on the scale.
Check out the results from the official UFC Fight Night 203 fighter weigh-ins.
LAS VEGAS – MMA Junkie is on scene and reporting live from Friday’s official UFC Fight Night 203 fighter weigh-ins, which kick off at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).
The weigh-ins take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The same venue hosts Saturday’s card, which streams on ESPN+.
Among those weighing in are Thiago Santos (22-9 MMA, 14-8 UFC) and Magomed Ankalaev (16-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC), who meet in the light heavyweight main event, and Marlon Moraes (23-9-1 MMA, 5-5 UFC) and Song Yadong (18-5-1 MMA, 7-1-1 UFC), who fight in the bantamweight co-feature.
The full UFC Fight Night 203 weigh-in results include:
Sodiq Yusuff is anxious to face Alex Caceres at UFC Fight Night 203 to move past his first UFC loss and recent inactivity due to health.
It hasn’t been smooth sailing for [autotag]Sodiq Yusuff[/autotag] as of late, but the UFC featherweight hopes to right the ship and get back to business as usual.
The Dana White’s Contender Series veteran will look to rebound from the first loss of his UFC career on Saturday when Yusuff (11-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) faces Alex Caceres (19-12 MMA, 14-10 UFC) on the main card UFC Fight Night 203.
“I like Bruce Leroy,” Yusuff told reporters at Wednesday’s media day. “I like the way he fights, he’s an original OG anime guy, you know? I’m an anime guy too, so it’s cool. I like the matchup.”
While getting back in the win column is important after a decision loss to Arnold Allen, there were times it was far from the first thing on Yusuff’s mind. He contemplated walking away from fighting altogether while dealing with long-haul COVID-19 symptoms that affected his ability to train properly. Even outside of the gym there were days where fatigue would get the best of him.
“It’s super depressing,” Yusuff said about his lack of activity due to health issues. “Especially the year before this one was frustrating, but last year was not frustrating because now I’m dealing with my health, you know? It’s different being frustrated about fighting and not thinking you’re gonna be jacked up for the rest of your life. I was really, really scared.”
Yusuff is in better health now and hopes to continue a more frequent schedule of fighting that he was used to in past years. Fighting twice in 2019 was the slowest stretch for Yusuff at the time, but two fights total over the past two years is certainly a trend he would like to break out of quickly.
Check out the full media day interview with Yusuff in the video above.
Check out the latest episode of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze.”
Thursday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.
On Episode 3,241, the fellas welcome Bellator president Scott Coker (aka “Big Daddy Cokes”), who addresses missing out on signing Kayla Harrison to Bellator after the PFL matched Bellator’s offer. The guys also preview UFC Fight Night 203 and weigh in on news surrounding [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag], talk of Stipe Miocic vs. Tai Tuivasa, and more. Tune in!
Stream or download this and all episodes of MMA Junkie Radio over at OmnyStudio. You can also catch it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more. A new episode of the podcast is released every Monday and Thursday.
Thiago Santos and Magomed Ankalaev both think they’re within striking distance of a title shot with a UFC Fight Night 203 main event win.
[autotag]Thiago Santos[/autotag] and [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] are two of the more low profile and soft-spoken fighters in the UFC light heavyweight division. Put them in the same octagon, however, and there’s a recipe for something explosive.
Santos (22-9 MMA, 14-8 UFC) and Ankalaev (16-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) are scheduled to clash in a five-round main event on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 203, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and streams on ESPN+.
For Santos, this situation is quite familiar. It’s his sixth UFC headliner, and his 11th bout in a row against a ranked opponent.
“Ankalaev is a tough guy, there’s no question about that,” Santos told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 203 media day. “But I’m here to fight against the best fighters of the world, the best of this division. It’s just one more fight for me and I’m excited.”
Ankalaev, meanwhile, is relishing the moment. It’s the first time his name has been on the top of the billing for a UFC event, and he wants to make the most of it with a “violent” victory.
“It feels like an accomplishment,” Ankalaev said through an interpreter at media day. “I’m glad the UFC bosses gave me a chance to headline an event.”
Getting a UFC main event is usually a positive sign for the future. The promotion clearly believes in both men, with Santos being a long-established contender who has already fought for the belt, and Ankalaev as a promising surging contender with potential to fight for a belt down the line.
Ankalaev knows this is his moment to send a message. He’s currently on a seven-fight winning streak in the UFC, but the names on his resume don’t stack up to Santos. If he can beat the Brazilian – and do it impressively – he knows a championship opportunity wouldn’t be far off.
“I’m so close to the title nothing is bothering me,” Ankalaev said. “I’m just focused on the fight, focused on the title and moving forward. … “I feel it depends on how I win the fight, how I beat Thiago. I am hopeful I will get the title shot after.”
Although Santos is something of a measuring stick for Ankalaev in this particular matchup, that doesn’t mean his own ambitions aren’t present. After losing a split decision to Jon Jones in his first title shot at UFC 239 in July 2019, “Marreta” went on a three-fight losing skid that had many people erasing him as a future threat.
He bounced back on the winning track against Johnny Walker in October, and now Santos plans to still the talk about Ankalaev and put it on himself.
“Absolutely he has quality,” Santos said. “He’s a good fighter. He has my respect. He’s a good guy, a very tough fighter, a big challenge for me. But I’m here. I’m here to prove I can beat anyone in this division and become champion.”
Santos said he expects a “chess match” with Ankalaev when they step in the octagon this week. As the man tied for the second-most knockouts in UFC history behind Derrick Lewis, Santos is capable of laying out any opponent. However, he’s also wise to the fact there are no guarantees of a finish.
“You can never predict,” Santos said. “I’ve fought against other guys and strikers too, and everyone expected a knockout and it didn’t happen. You never know. I can do five rounds because I know it’s a possibility. If it happens, I know I’m ready.”
Ankalaev appears to agree with those sentiments and said he’ll put his best foot forward for a spectacular finish.
“Thiago is a very tough opponent. A very high-level striker, same as me. I’m ready to fight, I’m ready to entertain the fans. I’m ready for his style, I’m ready for his techniques, and – I’m ready.”
The best facts and figures about UFC Fight Night 203, which features Thiago Santos vs. Magomed Ankalaev in the main event.
The UFC schedule rolls on Saturday with UFC Fight Night 203 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The entire card streams on ESPN+.
A clash of light heavyweight contenders gets the spotlight in the main event. Former title challenger [autotag]Thiago Santos[/autotag] (22-9 MMA, 14-8 UFC) get back on a winning streak when he takes on [autotag]Magomed Ankalaev[/autotag] (16-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC), who is riding the longest active run of octagon victories of any fighter in his weight class.
For more on the numbers behind the headliners, as well as the rest of the card, check below for 45 pre-event facts about UFC Fight Night 203.
We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 203 event in Las Vegas.
We want your predictions for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 203 event in Las Vegas.
Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we’ll use the official tallies that are registered by Thursday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).
Those MMA Junkie reader consensus picks will be part of the UFC Fight Night 203 main card staff predictions we release Friday ahead of the event. UFC Fight Night 203 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.
