![Magomed Ankalev [Image via Twitter @btsportufc]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/03/d50fd-16472695372201-1920.jpg)
![Magomed Ankalev [Image via Twitter @btsportufc]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgf/2gAIAQEAAAAAc6//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAF/9oACAECEAAAABP/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD/9oACAEDEAAAAF//xAAmEAABAwEGBwEAAAAAAAAAAAACAQMFBAAGERITIxQVISIkQXHy/9oACAEBAAE/ALlyUryGlGivbQxyR7r0fwwRxuoDwN92oqpvY/m2iUj5qU9MaVO9nBxwBLN1xQfXy3//xAAXEQEAAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADAAQS/9oACAECAQE/AGtJmf/EABYRAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAv/aAAgBAwEBPwBSf//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#2. Song Yadong vs. 'Sugar' Sean O'Malley
The co-main event of UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Santos ended in a dramatic fashion as Song Yadong flattened former title challenger Marlon Moraes with a brutal sequence of strikes.
Standing in front of Urijah Faber and the rest of his Team Alpha Male corner, Yadong issued a callout to Dominick Cruz. The rivalry between Cruz and Team Alpha Male stretches all the way back to the days of the WEC.
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However, Cruz is currently lobbying for a fight with Jose Aldo and for the time being, it seems likely that Yadong will be too much of a step down for him. Instead, a logical fight for Yadong to take would be against 'Sugar' Sean O'Malley.
O'Malley recently entered the top 15 of the division and is looking for his first ranked opponent. O'Malley vs. Yadong would be a battle of the prospects, with the winner being placed in a perfect position to face a top-ranked bantamweight such as Cruz.
#1. Magomed Ankalaev vs. Aleksandar 'Rocket' Rakic
Whilst Magomed Ankalaev's win over Thiago Santos was not the most exciting fight, it still allowed the 18-1 light heavyweight to once again demonstrate his ability to comfortably hang with the best of the division.
Ankalaev has since called for a title shot, but he is still only ranked at No.4 in the 205lb division. Instead, a fight against top contender Aleksandar Rakic would make considerably more sense.
Rakic was scheduled to face former champion Jan Blachowicz at UFC Vegas 51, but Blachowicz has since been forced to pull out due to injury. This leaves Rakic in need of an opponent to secure his place as the next No.1 contender.
A title eliminator fight between Magomed Ankalaev and Aleksandar Rakic is the perfect fight as neither man has a universal following yet and are in need of a major victory over a fellow contender. A main card fight on a major UFC PPV card would be the perfect next step for both fighters.
