Magomed Ankalaev-Ion Cutelaba Rematch Rebooked on UFC 252

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A thrilling Ultimate Fighting Championship rematch months in the making is coming in August.

According to a report from MMA Fighting on Friday, Magomed Ankalaev (13-1) will be meeting Ion Cutelaba (15-5, 1 NC) for the second time at UFC 252. Their sure-fire slobberknocker is set to go down on August 15 potentially at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Cutelaba confirmed the bout on his Instagram.

The original pairing of these two light heavyweights took place at UFC Fight Night 169 in February, where for 38 incredible seconds the two brawlers unleashed fury until referee Kevin MacDonald questionably stopped the fight. Throwing caution to the wind, the two actually got into it before the bell sounded, when “The Hulk” shoved Ankalaev while Bruce Buffer was calling their names. After nearly 40 seconds of mayhem, a couple blocked head kicks may have hurt Cutelaba -- who later admitted he was trying to lure in Ankalaev -- and MacDonald jumped in to call the fight by standing TKO. A subsequent appeal by Cutelaba was denied by the Virginia commission.

The two men were booked in a rematch at a card that was scheduled for April 18, but the event was canceled due to the coronavirus. Ankalaev has won his last four following his unsuccessful promotional debut in 2018. In that first UFC bout for the Dagestani fighter, Ankalaev suffered his first career defeat by triangle choke at 4:59 of the final round from Paul Craig. Since then, Ankalaev has stopped three of those four foes, including knockouts of Marcin Prachnio and Dalcha Lungiambula.

Cutelaba has alternated wins and losses in his last four. With a 93 percent finish rate, each of the Moldovan’s wins have come by first-round stoppage. His lone decision win came over Jonathan Wilson in 2016. Although previously linked to the rematch in April, Cutelaba attempted to get on a card the subsequent weekend against Ovince St. Preux, but that too was scratched due to the coronavirus pandemic.

UFC 252 will be held on August 15, and the location has not yet been determined although it has been considered for the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Headlining the event is the third heavyweight championship battle between Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier. Also on the card is a high-stakes heavyweight showdown between Junior dos Santos and Jairzinho Rozenstruik..