Nikita Krylov vs. Magomed Ankalaev is the co-main event at UFC Fight Night betting on February 27.
This should be a terrific fight between a pair of young light heavyweights looking to climb the rankings in a wide-open 205-pound division. UFC betting lines have Ankalaev installed as a sizable -340 favorite while Krylov comes back at +260.
Here are our best Krylov vs. Ankalaev picks and predictions for UFC Fight Night on Saturday, February 27 from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Krylov vs Ankalaev fight odds
| Method of Victory | Nikita Krylov | Magomed Ankalaev |
|---|---|---|
| Win Outright | +285 | -375 |
| To win by KO/TKO | +750 | -110 |
| To win by Points | +700 | +290 |
| To win by Submission | +1,100 | +1,200 |
| Draw | +5,000 | +5,000 |
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
Krylov vs Ankalaev betting preview
Nikita Krylov is the No. 8-ranked contender in the UFC light heavyweight division and is coming off a unanimous decision win against Johnny Walker last March. The Ukrainian is 2-2 since returning to the UFC in 2018 but his losses came against current champ Jan Blachowicz and No. 1 contender Glover Teixeira—a bout in which Krylov lost by a close split decision.
Krylov is 11-3 in his last 14 fights, with five of those wins coming by submission. With a background in Kyokushin Karate, Krylov is a solid striker that likes to work in kicks, but his best work comes on the ground with 15 career wins by submission, including four at the UFC level.
Magomed Ankalaev is No. 11 in the light heavyweight rankings and is on a five-fight winning streak after a first-round knockout of Ion Cutelaba in October. That was actually his second consecutive stoppage win over Cutelaba after a controversial TKO last February when the referee stopped the fight because he thought Cutelaba was knocked out on his feet.
Ankalaev has solid wrestling but he's at his best on his feet, where he can utilize his kickboxing and power to devastating effect.
Krylov vs Ankalaev tale of the tape
| Nikita Krylov | Magomed Ankalaev | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | Age | 28 |
| 6-foot-3 | Height | 6-foot-3 |
| 205 lbs | Weight | 205 lbs |
| 77.5 inches | Reach | 75 inches |
| 27-7-0 (10 KO) | Record | 14-1-0 (9 KO) |
Krylov vs Ankalaev UFC prediction and betting pick
PREDICTION: Under 1.5 Rounds - Krylov might be a grappler but he's not one of those boring wrestlers that's always looking to wrap up his opponent. Instead, he's a high-energy banger who isn't afraid to go on the offensive.
Krylov's last two fights went to the judges' cards, which is pretty shocking when you consider that each of his previous 31 bouts finished within the distance.
Likewise, Ankalaev loves to attack with crisp combinations while unleashing his knockout power. Seven of his previous eight wins have come by KO or TKO, with five of those ending within the first round.
With the finishing ability and aggressiveness of both fighters, we're not expecting this fight to last beyond the midway point of Round 2.
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