Credit: Fadel SENNA / AFP

A former UFC champion believes Magomed Ankalaev’s style is set up for slow-paced fights like his win at UFC Abu Dhabi.

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev returned to the win column by defeating Bogdan Guskov at UFC Abu Dhabi last weekend. After a knockout loss to Alex Pereira in their UFC 320 rematch, Ankalaev returned to the title mix with an impressive late knockout against Guskov.

Despite the win, Ankalaev heard from social media critics of his at-times sluggish performance against Guskov. While Ankalaev has earned several finishes during his UFC career, he’s won most of his fights via decision, earning himself the label of being ‘boring’ in the minds of many fans.

Ankalaev blamed Guskov for the slow-paced fight last weekend in his post-fight remarks. One former UFC champion believes Ankalaev’s style fails to create fan-friendly bouts.

TJ Dillashaw: Magomed Ankalaev’s ‘boring’ style to blame for sluggish UFC Abu Dhabi

In a recent episode of the JAXXON Podcast, former UFC bantamweight champion TJ Dillashaw scorched Ankalaev’s style following UFC Abu Dhabi.

“Boring! Just so boring,” Dillashaw said of Ankalaev.

“He’s just such a point fighter. You can’t fight him the way Guskov did. You can’t stand in his distance and let him – he’s a one punch, one kick at a time kind of guy.” (h/t MMA Junkie)

Dillashaw went on to point out that former UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira set the blueprint for all of Ankalaev’s future opponents.

“You can see it perfectly when Pereira fights him,” Dillashaw continued on Ankalaev.

“The first fight compared to the second fight. The first fight he stayed in that distance and let him pick his shot at a time, get his angle, throw one kick, throw one punch. And in the second fight, he comes forward, puts him on his back leg, and gets him out. So, you can’t let him fight his fight. You got to put the pressure on him; you got to make him fight going backwards.

“Yes, you’re taking some risk, but it’s a lot better than you just sitting there and losing a fight.”

Do you agree with TJ Dillashaw’s stance on Magomed Ankalaev’s style? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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