The fighter who handed Magomed Ankalaev his sole career loss recounted the severe injuries he sustained to claim that victory.
Khabib Nurmagomedov once declared Ankalaev to be among the greatest Russian fighters of all time.
The current UFC light heavyweight champion has long been considered one of the most consistent and dominant figures in the organization.
At UFC 320, Ankalaev will return to the octagon to conclude his rivalry with Alex Pereira, aiming to defeat the Brazilian star for a second consecutive time.
While the Russian has tasted defeat before, his single loss occurred under truly exceptional circumstances.
Paul Craig Recalls Enduring Brutal Injuries After Stunning Magomed Ankalaev
In his UFC debut in 2018, Magomed Ankalaev was submitted by Paul Craig in London, caught in a submission hold with just one second remaining in the bout.
Craig, who recently announced his retirement, appeared on a recent episode of Tom Aspinall’s Fight Club on TNT Sports, where he analyzed upcoming fights in Las Vegas.
The statistics from the Scotsman’s clash with Ankalaev clearly illustrate how one-sided the fight was before `Bearjew` Craig executed a historic triangle choke to salvage his UFC career.
| Paul Craig vs. Magomed Ankalaev Statistics | Magomed Ankalaev | Paul Craig |
|---|---|---|
| Significant Strikes | 59 of 96 | 18 of 50 |
| Total Strikes | 89 of 129 | 34 of 70 |
| Takedowns | 0 of 0 | 2 of 7 |
| Control Time | 6:43 | 1:47 |
Craig noted after UFC 313 that, in his opinion, Ankalaev hasn`t changed much since their fight, despite becoming the light heavyweight champion.
However, as the former fighter revealed, this doesn`t make Alex Pereira`s task any easier on Saturday night, given what Craig had to endure to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
“For almost 14 minutes, he imposed his will on me. He was very explosive, very strong, and I remember at one point, he picked me up in a wrestling takedown and he sat me down like a father laying down a baby.
“I had a hole in my jaw underneath my chin where he’d clocked me. He’d fractured ribs. He’d basically beaten me up and for the next two days, I couldn’t walk because he destroyed my legs and destroyed my arms.”
Magomed Ankalaev`s Unbeaten Streak: 14 Fights Since His Only Loss
Paul Craig recounted how he knew very little about Magomed Ankalaev before their fight until UFC commentators began listing his accomplishments during the broadcast.
After that initial setback, fans truly began to witness the Russian`s capabilities, and that loss remains the only defeat in his career.
Since being submitted with one second left on the clock, Ankalaev has compiled an impressive 14-fight unbeaten streak.
| Magomed Ankalaev`s Opponents After His Debut Loss | Event and Date | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Pereira | UFC 313 (2025) | Ankalaev via Decision |
| Aleksandar Rakic | UFC 308 (2024) | Ankalaev via Decision |
| Johnny Walker | UFC Vegas 84 (2024) | Ankalaev via KO – Round 2 |
| Johnny Walker | UFC 294 (2023) | No Contest – Illegal Knee |
| Jan Blachowicz | UFC 282 (2022) | Split Draw |
| Anthony Smith | UFC 277 (2022) | Ankalaev via TKO – Round 2 |
| Thiago Santos | UFC Vegas 50 (2022) | Ankalaev via Decision |
| Volkan Oezdemir | UFC 267 (2021) | Ankalaev via Decision |
| Nikita Krylov | UFC Vegas 20 (2021) | Ankalaev via Decision |
| Ion Cutelaba | UFC 254 (2020) | Ankalaev via KO – Round 1 |
| Ion Cutelaba | UFC Fight Night: Norfolk (2020) | Ankalaev via TKO – Round 1 |
| Dalcha Lungiambula | UFC Fight Night: Moscow (2019) | Ankalaev via KO – Round 3 |
| Klidson Abreu | UFC Fight Night: Prague (2019) | Ankalaev via Decision |
| Marcin Prachnio | UFC Fight Night: Moscow (2018) | Ankalaev via TKO – Round 1 |
This consistent string of results led many fans to believe that his championship was merely a matter of time.
