Ankalaev walker odds
Johnny Walker vs Magomed Ankalaev - Betting Odds - UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev VS. Walker 2 - January 13, - Live betting lines. After several weeks off, UFC excitement returns ankalaev walker odds a show in Las Vegas that will feature a rematch between two light heavyweights: Magomed. Point of interest: Odds and opinions The oddsmakers and public are favoring the Russian fighter, listing Ankalaev and Walker + as of. Magomed Ankalaev () vs. Johnny Walker (+). Betting on Johnny Walker fights is just asking for trouble. Manel Kape () vs. Matheus.
Johnny Walker vs Magomed Ankalaev UFC Odds
UFC Ankalaev vs Walker 2 Prediction: Who are the oddsmakers favoring for UFC Vegas 98?
A fighter named Magomed fighting out of Dagestan while sporting a full beard with no mustache certainly seems like the prototypical all-grappling build. While Ankalaev certainly can wrestle, it's clearly the Plan B from Ankalaev. Even when Ankalaev does, he's not much of a submission threat, and he has just one career win via tap-out. He's primarily leaned on his wrestling late in fights, or when he's clipped on the feet.
A true counter-puncher, Ankalaev likes to stay just inside his opponent's danger zone, baiting him to over-extend on strikes that he responds to violently. Ankalaev typically throws single shots, but he has solid kicks and a quick jab that comes from all angles. While he's listed as an orthodox fighter, Ankalaev typically begins fights as a southpaw, switching stances only to "mirror" his opponents when they go southpaw.
Despite his insistence on keeping an opposite stance, he's fairly lackluster at winning the lead-foot battle. This was evident in his bout with Jan Blachowicz, who consistently kept his lead foot to the outside while brutalizing Ankalaev's lead leg with kicks. Which eventually caused Ankalaev to lean on his grappling, with which he pulled away late into the fight.
He was able to take down Blachowicz fairly easily late in the fight with a smothering top game that left no room for escape. Other fighters have had more success in escaping back to their feet, though, with Blachowicz totally gassed by the end of their unplanned five-round fight.
The tallest and longest active light heavyweight following the departure of Jon Jones, Walker is an explosive striker with a somewhat questionable gas tank. He keeps opponents at bay on the feet with kicks from range, and he found success landing leg kicks on southpaw Hill.
The fight against Hill was a good microcosm of Walker's game. He was probably winning the fight from the outside behind kicks and jabs while controlling the lead-foot battle. Then, he got suckered into a brawl by the superior boxer, and he found himself looking up at the UFC Apex lights. That was his last loss, and he's been much better at staying away from his opponents' strengths since then.
Walker defended the desperate takedown attempts by Paul Craig, finishing him with strikes without engaging on the ground. Against Ion Cutelaba, he was able to reverse position on the ground, and he used his superior jiu-jitsu to force a submission. Walker's a brown belt with an underrated submission game that could potentially keep Ankalaev uncomfortable on the ground.
The zenith of Walker's growth was against Anthony Smith, against whom he took a far more patient approach. Ankalaev walker odds He maintained the range perfectly, slipping just out of range of Smith's punches while answering with leg kicks and straight shots of his own en route to a unanimous-decision victory that Smith was fortunate to survive to the final bell.
ESPN Bet is now live. One thing that has changed since October is the betting line. Ankalaev has moved from a or so favorite at close last time to heading into the rematch. That doesn't make much sense to me. The fight was, at worst, closer than expected the first time around. Walker was also putting money in the bank with leg kicks, and he showed off his solid ground game in escaping back to the feet.
The five-round nature of this fight is the only real difference from last time. Additionally, Ankalaev's cardio edge might disappear after one too many calf kicks from the rangy Walker. I thought the Brazilian was a solid value at that line, so he's a steal at nearly a full dollar better this time around.
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