Night Bonus Performance
Performance of the evening: Magomed Ankalaev
Light heavyweight competitors Magomed Ankalayev and Johnny Walker took it back after a bizarre ending to their UFC 294 fight last year and there was nothing controversial about how it ended once.
In the second round, Ankalaev delivered a powerful strike that sent Walker back toward the Octagon fence. Ankalaev’s follow-up strike was a precise strike that instantly damaged Walker. Referee Marc Goddard intervened immediately after the strike and the score was settled.
It was a key victory for Ankalaev, who is trying to reestablish himself as the next fighter to challenge for the light heavyweight title held by Alex Pereira.
Performance of the evening: Jim Miller
What else would you expect from the one and only Jim Miller than a vintage performance that was filthy and ended with hands raised. Miller had an opponent in Gabriel Benitez and the two weren’t afraid to stand up and exchange.
After some clinch fighting, Miller went to his bread and butter and took the fight to the ground in the third frame. Miller wrapped Benitez’s neck and spun until the vet tapped. This was Miller’s 26th UFC win, extending his record for most UFC wins. His 18 finishes are second only to former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira.
Expect to see Miller next at UFC 300, where he will be part of the holy trinity of competing at UFC 100, UFC 200 and UFC 300.
Performance of the evening: Marcus McGhee
Bantamweights must have Marcus McGhee on the radars.
The 33-year-old who trains in Arizona stepped up his game at UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Walker 2 by defeating decorated striker Gaston Bolaños in his own match. McGhee stood in the center and exchanged strikes with Bolaños and hurt him several times in the second round.
After softening Bolaños up even more, he dropped him with a straight shot and then went on the chase. He threw a spinning kick, then overwhelmed Bolaños with ground and pound before the referee called it.
The TKO victory puts McGhee at 3-0 in the UFC and with three finishes. Big things are on the horizon for “The Maniac” in 2024.
Performance of the evening: Brunno Ferreira
Anytime a resume shows a fighter has a 100% success rate, you know they’re going to bring it. You can also tell when a fighter has the nickname “Hulk” that he has real power.
This is exactly what Bruno Ferreira has shown in his UFC fights thus far, and although he suffered his first professional defeat before his fight with Phil Hawes, he knew he could always rely on his power. Late in the first round, Ferreira landed a powerful shot that put Hawes away and put the Brazilian middleweight prospect on the card as a real threat whenever he wears 4 gloves, oz.
It will be interesting to see what’s next for him, but regardless, you can guarantee he plans to exceed all expectations.