Ankalaev admits he considered quitting MMA after his first UFC loss: 'I didn't leave for a month'

M. Ankalaev is the current UFC light heavyweight champion. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram

New light heavyweight champion (up to 93kg) and heading towards his first title defense, Magomed Ankalayev He's been through ups and downs before achieving glory in the UFC. Despite having only one loss on his professional record, the Russian has opened up and admitted that a singular episode almost prevented him from returning to the sport he reigns supreme.

Overcome by Paul Craig In 2018, his debut fight with the organization, Ankalaev surprised everyone watching after, with just one second remaining, tapping out when the Scotsman locked in a triangle choke on the ground. According to the Russian, this had a huge impact on his psyche at the time.

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"I used to worry about losing when I went out and what people would say about me. But now it's over. I suffered the worst loss in a major league like the UFC. In just seconds. People have said good and bad things, that's why I don't do anything to please anyone (...) it's easy. This loss changed my lifestyle; at first it was very difficult. After that loss, I didn't go out in public for a month. Wherever there were people, I went. My mother lives in Khasavyurt with my brother. So my brother and I went there. I stayed there for another month, thinking it was over, that I wouldn't come back," Ankalaev said in an interview with the UFC.

P. Craig finished Magomed Ankalayev at the last second. Photo: Reproduction / Twitter @ufc

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Following his speech, the light heavyweight champion explained what brought about the change in his mindset and motivation to return to the gym in search of getting back on the winning track.

"After that, over the course of one or two months, I began to realize that it wasn't my fault; I did everything I could. It was God's will. And that set me free. After that, I decided to come back. It was a relief; I began to understand the situation. So I went back to training. I went to the gym and worked. I left everything at the gym and got the results," he concluded.

Protagonists of UFC 320, Magomed Ankalayev e Alex Poatán will hold a long-awaited rematch this Saturday (04), in Las Vegas (USA). Currently, the Russian is considered the big favorite in bookmakers.