Magomed Ankalaev vs. Anthony Smith: UFC 277 Odds, Prediction

Ankalaev is a heavy -565 favourite on the MMA odds with Smith at +375.

Magomed Ankalaev -485
Anthony Smith +335

Magomed Ankalaev UFC 277 Odds

Jiri Prochazka is the current UFC light heavyweight champion and Ankalaev is ranked fourth. The 32-year-old from Russia is 16-1 in a professional career that began in 2014 and is a former light heavyweight champion of World Fighting Championship Akhmat.

Ankalaev’s lone loss was his UFC debut, a first-round TKO (head kick and punches) against Paul Craig in March 2018. Ankalaev largely dominated that fight but lost with one second remaining. Ankalaev has won eight in a row since, tied with Lyoto Machida for the second-longest win streak in UFC light heavyweight history behind all-time great Jon Jones (13 in a row).

Ankalaev was last in the Octagon in March and beat Thiago Santos by unanimous decision — it was Ankalaev’s first promotional headliner and five-round fight — and then called for a title shot, but he’ll have to win at least one more fight to get that chance.

The 6-foot-3 Ankalaev’s fights average 11:30. He averages 3.49 significant strikes per minute with 54 per cent accuracy and absorbs 2.13 with 61 per cent defence. His takedown average is 1.01 per 15 minutes with 33 per cent accuracy, and his takedown defence is 85 per cent. The Russian has eight wins by KO/TKO and eight by decision. No method of victory props up as of this writing, but the over-under is 2.5 rounds with the over a -160 favourite.

Anthony Smith UFC 277 Odds

The 34-year-old Smith, from Nebraska, is 36-16 in a pro career dating to way back in 2008 and is ranked as the No. 5 light heavyweight.

“Lionheart” is a former Victory Fighting Championship and Cage Fury Fighting Championship middleweight champion. He has gotten one title shot at light heavyweight in the UFC but lost to Jon Jones by unanimous decision at UFC 235. Going the distance against the legendary Jones is a win in itself, although the fight wasn’t really close.

“Hats off to Anthony Smith – I know why they call him ‘Lionheart.’ I have never had someone talk to me while I’m hitting them. It was amazing. This guy is so durable, he’s like the Terminator,” Jones said after in a sign of respect.

Smith enters on a three-fight winning streak, last via first-round submission (rear-naked choke) vs. Ryan Spann in September 2021. Smith picked up a “Performance of the Night” bonus, his eighth with the promotion as a whole.

The 6-foot-4 Smith’s bouts average 9:31. He lands 3.03 significant strikes per minute with 47 per cent accuracy and absorbs 4.31 with 42 per cent defence. His takedown average is 0.46 per 15 minutes with 38 per cent accuracy, and his takedown defence is 48 per cent. Smith has 19 wins by KO/TKO, 14 by submission, two by decision and one by “other.” Most of his losses (56 per cent) are by KO/TKO.

Smith will have a one-inch reach advantage on Saturday, but Ankalaev’s wrestling will be too much for him.