Paul Craig, the sole fighter to defeat Magomed Ankalaev, endured significant challenges to secure his victory, suffering a litany of severe injuries in the process.
According to Khabib Nurmagomedov, Ankalaev is already considered among the greatest Russian fighters ever. As the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion, Ankalaev has consistently proven to be a dominant presence on the roster.
At UFC 320, Ankalaev aims to conclude his rivalry with Alex Pereira by securing a second consecutive win against the Brazilian standout. Although Ankalaev has faced defeat once, it required an extraordinary effort to break his previously unblemished record.
Paul Craig Details Severe Injuries Sustained in Comeback Victory Against Magomed Ankalaev
During Magomed Ankalaev`s UFC debut in 2018, Paul Craig secured a dramatic submission victory in London, with only one second remaining in the bout.
Recently retired Paul Craig appeared on Tom Aspinall’s Fight Club via TNT Sports to discuss the upcoming fights in Las Vegas. The statistics from Craig’s encounter with Ankalaev highlight the fight’s heavily one-sided nature, until ‘Bearjew’ executed a memorable triangle choke, arguably saving his UFC career.
| Paul Craig vs Magomed Ankalaev stats | 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 |
Following UFC 313, Craig expressed his view that Ankalaev’s fighting style hasn`t significantly evolved since their initial encounter, despite Ankalaev later becoming light heavyweight champion.
Nevertheless, as Craig explained, this consistency doesn`t make Alex Pereira`s upcoming challenge any less daunting, especially considering the sheer struggle Craig faced to achieve his come-from-behind victory.
“For nearly 14 minutes, he dominated me. He was incredibly explosive and powerful. I recall him executing a wrestling takedown, gently setting me down like a father with a child. I suffered a hole in my jaw beneath my chin from his strike, along with fractured ribs. He essentially battered me, leaving me unable to walk for two days due to the damage inflicted on my legs and arms.”
Magomed Ankalaev`s Impressive 14-Fight Undefeated Streak Since His Sole Loss
Craig revealed during the breakdown that he had minimal knowledge of Ankalaev before their fight, only becoming aware of his opponent`s extensive accolades as UFC commentators listed them on air.
Following this initial defeat, which remains his sole professional loss, fans truly began to witness the full extent of the Russian fighter’s capabilities. Since that last-second submission loss, Ankalaev has compiled an impressive undefeated record spanning 14 consecutive fights.
| 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 remarkable winning streak solidified many fans` belief that his championship reign was inevitable.
