Media Magomed Ankalaev nearly retired after Paul Craig loss: ‘You can say I had the worst loss in UFC’

[KazDibiase]

“That loss changed my life,” Ankalaev told UFC Russia. “It was hard for me at first. I didn’t come out in public for a month. My mother lives in Khasavyurt with my brother, I spent a month there. I thought I wouldn’t fight anymore. Then within that month, I realized that it wasn’t because of me. I did everything I could, it was the will of the almighty. It was a relief. I started to understand the situation then I went back to training. I came in the gym and put in work. I left it all in the gym and got my results.


“When you’re undefeated, you always worry about the zero,” he continued. “I’m over that now. I know what it’s like to lose, what it’s like to win. I know how bitter it is to lose. With that knowledge, I give my all in the gym.”

Ankalaev (18-1) has battled through little resistance since his lone setback in the Octagon. Like many of his fellow talented Dagestani fighters, dealing with the pressure of an unbeaten record can be a big mental hurdle to overcome. Ankalev managed to turn his negative into a positive and it’s led him to a chance at becoming Russia’s first 205-pound UFC champion.


“I used to be worried about losing and what people say about me,” Ankalaev said. “That doesn’t happen anymore. You can that I had the worst loss in the UFC. I gave up literally in the final moments of a fight. People were saying good and bad things.

“The way I see it, I don’t do something to benefit someone else,” he concluded. “I do it for myself, my close ones. Those who believe in me. So it’s easy for me.”

https://www.mmamania.com/2022/12/8/...s-you-can-say-i-had-the-worst-loss-in-ufc-mma

 

[The_Renaissance]

I see his point. He brutalised a solid fighter and still got caught right at the death. I love Craig, do or die nutter. But Ankalaev beats him 9.5/10 times they fight and finishes him 9 times!

That's mma though!

 

[ChimRichalds]

Idk why but it always rustles my jimmies when guys attribute their wins or losses in cage fights to god.

 

[Noveltymortar]

“That loss changed my life,” Ankalaev told UFC Russia. “It was hard for me at first. I didn’t come out in public for a month. My mother lives in Khasavyurt with my brother, I spent a month there. I thought I wouldn’t fight anymore. Then within that month, I realized that it wasn’t because of me. I did everything I could, it was the will of the almighty. It was a relief. I started to understand the situation then I went back to training. I came in the gym and put in work. I left it all in the gym and got my results.


“When you’re undefeated, you always worry about the zero,” he continued. “I’m over that now. I know what it’s like to lose, what it’s like to win. I know how bitter it is to lose. With that knowledge, I give my all in the gym.”

Ankalaev (18-1) has battled through little resistance since his lone setback in the Octagon. Like many of his fellow talented Dagestani fighters, dealing with the pressure of an unbeaten record can be a big mental hurdle to overcome. Ankalev managed to turn his negative into a positive and it’s led him to a chance at becoming Russia’s first 205-pound UFC champion.


“I used to be worried about losing and what people say about me,” Ankalaev said. “That doesn’t happen anymore. You can that I had the worst loss in the UFC. I gave up literally in the final moments of a fight. People were saying good and bad things.

“The way I see it, I don’t do something to benefit someone else,” he concluded. “I do it for myself, my close ones. Those who believe in me. So it’s easy for me.”

https://www.mmamania.com/2022/12/8/...s-you-can-say-i-had-the-worst-loss-in-ufc-mma

Why is the almighty always interfering with UFC fights? Is he hooked up with James Krause or something?

 

[mjfan23]

Getting submitted as a Dagestani is equivalent to getting beat up by a gay man as an American, it’s the pinnacle of embarrassment

Izzy had beaten quiet a few Americans

 

[Deceasedxo]

Ah yes the classic 'it's not me, it's because of a non existent god'

 

[Pancake Sprawl]

this is why i have a hard time believing that these guys are the future of MMA. 1 loss and this guy nearly retired. it's not just him either. there's tons of these Eastern Euros who just fall off the face of the earth in the middle of their prime/rise through the rankings. they're good fighters, some even great, but they're flaky as fuck.

 

[markys00]

You can say a lot of things, doesn't make em true.

He doesn't come close

 

[Ramon Antonio]

Idk why but it always rustles my jimmies when guys attribute their wins or losses in cage fights to god.

Yeah why even train at all. It’s up to God anyway.

 

[Serge421]

Idk why but it always rustles my jimmies when guys attribute their wins or losses in cage fights to god.

He just said in the fighter pre interviews that he made a mistake, now it's Allah?

 

[fortheo]

The funny part was that he helped his teammate get ready to fight Paul Craig after, and his teammate ran right into Craig's triangle too lol.

 

[BEATDOWNS]

It's a million times better than Askrens's 5 second loss. Ankalaev basically fought the whole fight and got caught at the end. Surprised he's so hard on himself because of it.

 

[kalabula]

Seems like most fighters have that “I almost quit” story.

 

[MartinGibson86]

Idk why but it always rustles my jimmies when guys attribute their wins or losses in cage fights to god.

Most aren't MENSA members lol

 

[Luckyme]

It's a million times better than Askrens's 5 second loss. Ankalaev basically fought the whole fight and got caught at the end. Surprised he's so hard on himself because of it.

I think the pressure of maintaining that zero gets to some people. In a way, losing is liberating because you don't have to worry about being undefeated anymore.

I imagine Khabib's cousins must be under a ton of pressure trying to follow in his footsteps. Islam on the other hand is more relaxed because he lost his zero a long time ago.

 

[Phisher]

It was hard for me at first. I didn’t come out in public for a month.

That's brutal.

I've wondered how guys who compete at the highest level can process a loss like that.

 

[MDoza]

Getting submitted as a Dagestani is equivalent to getting beat up by a gay man as an American, it’s the pinnacle of embarrassment

Poor Justin Gaethje has to live with the fact that he can be held down by one man (while another rapes him).

 

[Odoylerules22]

He should still have a 0. His coaches should have been yelling the countdown. Dude tapped with 1 second left if I remember correctly.

 

[HaulParris]

this is why i have a hard time believing that these guys are the future of MMA. 1 loss and this guy nearly retired. it's not just him either. there's tons of these Eastern Euros who just fall off the face of the earth in the middle of their prime/rise through the rankings. they're good fighters, some even great, but they're flaky as fuck.

This made me think of when Machida's dad wanted him to retire after his first loss (to Shogun):

https://middleeasy.com/mma-news/lyoto-machida-s-father-thinks-his-son-should-retire/

 

[VanMMA]

People really getting offended by the idea of God. Never change Sherdog.