I don't buy the "Ank just turtled up and folded" view

[Rubios]

Even though the left Mexican hook is his signature strike, Poatan is right-handed.
Ank took a looping right overhand straight to the temple.
That was the end of the fight, exactly at the 60-second mark, IMHO.

His following single-leg looked more like a knockdown in disguise than a genuine takedown attempt.
The fact that he didn’t go out cold and stayed conscious while at least trying to defend himself is a testament to the guy having a granite chin.

 

[Pequeño Corey]

It's not like we haven't seen him quit before

 

[markg171]

He turtled and quit because he was hurt

 

[Ozze]

So after being hit with a solid shot to the temple and getting hurt he..................turtled up and folded.

It's no shame, it's just how fighting goes.
Fighter is not out cold but he's just not capable of coming back, so the last resource is to wait for the ref to step in. Or tap to strikes.

And while waiting, better to turtle up and avoid more damage.

 

[2432sj]

You don’t believe your eyes?

 

[Conan the K-9]

He has an iron temple, his chin is still to be tested.
But yes it was over before the single leg already.

 

[Kung Fu Kowboy]

Have you ever fought with a broken skull TS... Because that's what UFC fighters do....

 

[Rubios]

I think he was barely conscious and it was not a decision because his head wasn't there, that's all.

 

[VinceArch]

I think Alex coming out like a buzzsaw is what caused Ank to fold.

 

[HNIC215]

He’s not allowed to have excuses or be injured.

Only Alex is allowed to do that lol

 

[Uber_Noober]

Have a closer look

 

[RockyLockridge]

why do people pretend he magically ended up on the floor? He got rocked and was hurt, which is why he shot a double. Then alex didn't let him recover.

 

[ArtardFiesta]

ank seemed shock right away when alex started with the pressure. I guess he wasn't expecting that or was ready for it. If he could have survived the first half of the round, by this I mean not get hit by the right hook, maybe he would have found his composure.

But look at anks eyes the whole minute of the fight. he was a deer caught in the headlights as soon as the fight started. izzy caught it too.

 

[HeadKickerV2]

Alex didnt respect his grappling this time and pushed forward... if you cant put Alex on back foot or take him down he will put you to sleep

 

[HHJ]

. if you cant put Alex on back foot or take him down he will put you to sleep

This part is absolutley true. You either land a hail mary like izzy or you gotta back him up and take control of the octagon.

If you just stand there in front of him trying to figure shit out he's gonna get something through.

 

[Blastbeat]

ank seemed shock right away when alex started with the pressure. I guess he wasn't expecting that or was ready for it. If he could have survived the first half of the round, by this I mean not get hit by the right hook, maybe he would have found his composure.

But look at anks eyes the whole minute of the fight. he was a deer caught in the headlights as soon as the fight started. izzy caught it too.

Very well put. I dont think Ank expected Alex to just come right at him aggressively out of the gate. Especially considering how their first fight went. But Alex has game-changing power and he landed flush behind Ank's ear. He was in survival mode after that.

 

[Pequeño Corey]

Have you ever fought with a broken skull TS... Because that's what UFC fighters do....

 

[markantony20]

It's not like we haven't seen him quit before

It’s not really quitting though when it’s your arm about to be broken.

Yeah there was a second left on the clock but a elbow joint can only take so much.

 

[RockyLockridge]

He’s not allowed to have excuses or be injured.

Only Alex is allowed to do that lol

To be honest, His injuries and excuses don't reflect his poor performance like Alex's do. Alex is believable because he looked very off (the fight was long enough to extrapolate this) and despite how breif the rematch was, Alex looked completely different in how he approached it. Yet to be seen how ankalaev adjusts to this yet, regardless we'll probably never know because the rematch was too short to see any major differences in Akalaevs typical performance

 

[Pequeño Corey]

It’s not really quitting though when it’s your arm about to be broken.

Yeah there was a second left on the clock but a elbow joint can only take so much.

Yea man I'm being a troll. I can imagine you wouldn't want to play those games with someone like Paul Greg. It's absolutely plausible that Ank's wing could have broken if he tried hanging on for another second. No one wants to lose their debut, but it was otherwise a solid performance from Ank. Paul gained some cache for it that he would ride out for the remainder of this career, so good for him.