Ankalaev TKOs compromised Smith to extend win streak at UFC 277
Make it nine straight for Magomed Ankalaev.
Ankalaev extended his win streak to nine fights Saturday, defeating Anthony Smith via TKO at the 3:09 mark of the second round in a light heavyweight bout at UFC 277 in Dallas.
Ankalaev's victory came after Smith suffered an apparent serious leg injury in Round 1. Smith decided to fight through the ailment in the second round, though he was visibly in pain. The 34-year-old left for the hospital after exiting the cage.
Anthony Smith walked past press row and said he broke his leg throwing his last kick of the first round.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) July 31, 2022
UFC president Dana White said Saturday that Smith didn't fracture his leg, according to Marc Raimondi of ESPN.
Ankalaev and Smith traded kicks in the first round, with both men scoring hard hits.
Ankalaev now has the second-longest winning streak in UFC light heavyweight history. The victory bolsters his case for a title shot after he entered Saturday as the fourth-ranked light heavyweight.
"Of course, this fight was very important for me," Ankalaev said after the bout, according to MMA Fighting's Damon Martin. "He wanted to see a fight; we showed him a fight tonight. Who do you think broke (his leg)? He hit me."
The 30-year-old added: "How many more fights do I have to win so I can fight for the championship?"
The loss ends Smith's three-fight win streak. He previously defeated Ryan Spann via submission in September 2021.